>>> THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. I'M CATHY MOORE. >> COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT RINCK. >> PRESENT. >> SAKA. >> HERE. >> VICE CHAIR SOLOMON. >> HERE. >> CHAIR MOORE. >> PRESENT. >> THERE ARE FOUR PRESENT. >> THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER NELSON IS EXCUSED TODAY. AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST COMMITTEE MEMBER AND OUR VICE CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER MARK SOLOMON. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANKS FOR BEING HERE FOR THE FEBRUARY 12th MEETING. ON TODAY'S AGENDA FIRST WE WILL HAVE SEVEN APPOINTMENTS. THE FIRST IS TO THE HOUSING LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THREE FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. AND THREE FOR THE PACIFIC HOSPITAL PDA. OUR FINAL AGENDA ITEM IS A PRESENTATION FROM OUR OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. FROM ALL THE COMMISSIONS. AND THEY ARE HERE TODAY TO DO AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORK THEY DO. TO MAKE SEATTLE A BETTER PLACE AND THEIR POLICY PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. SO TODAY WE WILL NOW OPEN. >> WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE PRESENT SPEAKER AND ONE ONLINE SPEAKER. >> SO EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. >> THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION WILL BE IN THE FOLLOWING MATTER. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT. >> I'M GARY LEE, I HAVE BEEN BEFORE THE COUNCIL A FEW TIMES. REGARDING CONCENTRATION OF HOMELESS HUMAN SERVICES AROUND THE DOWNTOWN. AND I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU WORK ON THAT ZONING REGULATION I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. I'M ASKING YOU ASK TO LOOK INTO THAT PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. WE ALSO DID RECEIVE THE COMMENTS. >> OH YEAH. I SENT THIS EMAIL LAST NIGHT. BUT I CORRECTED THIS MORNING. >> OKAY, WE DO. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER? >> THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES. DAVID, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO SPEAK. >> HI I THANK YOU DAVID HAYNES. IT IS OBVIOUS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ABSOLUTELY NO MOTIVATION TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS. HERE WE ARE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER AND THERE IS NO EFFORT TO BUILD CAPACITY SHELTER. VIRTUE SIGNALING RACE BAITING BUTTON PUSHING MEETING. WHILE IT IS ANOTHER WINTER OF SUFFERING FOR THE HOMELESS. THE ONLY THING DEMOCRATS CARE ABOUT IS BUILDING THE CAPACITY AFTER A BUNCH OF COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDERS WHO LINE THEIR POCKETS WITH GOVERNMENT MONEY AND RECIPROCATE BY DONATING TO THEIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN THAT WATERS DOWN THE INTEGRITY OF THE OVERSIGHT THAT TRADES ELECTION SUPPORT FOR NOT SCRUTINIZING THE SQUANDERED MONEY CREATING SUBHUMAN SHELTERS AND HOUSING SERVICES FOR BIPOC, REPEAT OFFENDING CRIMINALS. THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO VIRTUE HOW MUCH THEY CARE FOR GENDER BASED COMMISSION. SEXUAL ORIENTATION COMMISSION AND RACIST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WHO HATE WHITE CITIZENS. WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS? MAYBE IF WE HAD TRUSTWORTHYS AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE RACIST WOKE CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES CONDUCTING A RACE WAR AGAINST INNOCENT WHITE CITIZENS. THIS IS ANOTHER EASY PAYDAY GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND NO REAL LEADERSHIP. NO REAL EFFORT TO RIGHT LAWS TO TEAR DOWN AND TAKE OVER AND REBUILD THE LANDS. THE COUNCIL CATERS TOO MUCH TO THE PRIVILEGE THAT TREADS ON EVERYONE ELSE. UNLESS YOU LIVE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD NEXT TO THE TRANSIT ORIENTED INNER CITY DEPOT. SHAME ON THIS WHOLE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONTINUING. PUBLIC SAFETY HOSING CRY WHICH HAS BEEN EXACERBATED. >> CHAIR, THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER. THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS AND WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS. CLERK WILL YOU PLEASE. JUST HAVE THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS JOINED US IN PERSON. WELCOME. WILL THE CLERK READ THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT 3072. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND 3072. WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. >> YES. >> COUNT SAKA. >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR SOLOMON. >> AYE. >> CHAIR MOORE. >> AYE. >> FOUR IN FAVE, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU, THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT WILL BE SENT TO THE FEBRUARY 18th SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 2-4 INTO THE RECORD? >> AGENDA ITEMS 2-4 APPOINTMENTS 3073-3075, APPOINTMENTS OF MIRANDA CATSAMBAS, PHILLIP LEWIS AND GOUTHAM PUTTA FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. >> THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SERVES. THE CITY OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. MIRANDA HAS EXPERIENCE WITH NON-PROFITS, GRASS ROOTS ACTIVISM WORKING TOWARD HER MASTERS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. PHILLIP WORKS AS A YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PASTOR AT UNION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND HAS HELPED TO CALL A CITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE. HE IS PART OF THE SOLUTION IN HIS WORK. GOUTHAM HAS LIVED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN AUSTIN AND MINNESOTA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE TO A VOTE? OKAY. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS I NOW MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS 3073-3075. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. MOVED AND SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNT SAKA? >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> CHAIR MOORE. >> AYE. >> FOUR IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE SENT TO THE FEBRUARY 18th CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE TITLE OF AGENDA ITEMS 5-7 INTO THE RECORD? >> AGENDA ITEMS 5-7. 3706- -3708. REAPPOINTMENT OF PAUL FELDMAN AND DOUGLASS L. JACKSON AS MEMBERS OF THE PACIFIC IMPORTANT PRESERVATION AND HOSPITAL. >> ROBERT'S WORK HAS INCLUDED ACTING AS THE STRATEGIC ADVISER SERVING ON THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WHERE THEY OVERSAW THE STRUCTURING OF MUNICIPAL BONDS. HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN 870 BONDS TOTALING $18.4 BILLION. PAUL HAS SERVED AN THE PACIFIC HOSPITAL PDA SINCE 2015. ALSO SERVING ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE UNTIL 2022. PAUL IS VERY ACTIVE AS A COMMUNITY LEADER AND HIV AIDS ADVOCACY AND POLICY. AND DR. JACKSON IS A CLINICAL PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ORAL HEALTH SCIENCES. AND THE DEAN FOR EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY. THIS WILL BE HIS SECOND TERM WITH THE PACIFIC PDA. COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY COLLEAGUES OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE TO A VOTE? OKAY, SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I NOW MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS 3076-3078. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> CHAIR MOORE. >> AYE. >> FOUR IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU, AND THE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SENT TO THE FEBRUARY 18th, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WILL THE CLERK READ THE TITLE OF ITEM 8 INTO THE RECORD? >> OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION INTRODUCTION AND UPDATE FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION. >> ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WOULD ALL LIKE TO COME TO THE TABLE. OKAY, SO WHILE EVERYONE IS GETTING SEATED, TODAY, WE HAVE WITH US BRYENNAH, EMILY ROSE, KRYSTAL, AND BRETT FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, AND LGBTQ COMMISSION. THEY ARE HERE TO SHARE THEIR WORK SO FAR AND TOP POLICY PRIORITIES. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER I WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM THAT WE HAVE SUCH COMMITTED VOLUNTEER TO HELP MAKE SEATTLE A MUCH BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE. MAKE IT A THRIVING AND EQUITABLE CITY. SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK GOING INTO AND THINKING ABOUT MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL. IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A VARIETY OF OPINIONS PRESENTED. IT MAKES GOOD FOOD FOR THOUGHT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND ALSO, AS A FORMER CHAIR OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, I UNDERSTAND THE PASSION AND EFFORT THAT YOU ALL PUT INTO YOUR WORK. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND THEN BEGIN. >> AND FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS JOINED US. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. >> HI, MY NAME IS ASHLEY. I USE SHE AND THEY PRONOUNS. I AM ONE OF THE LGBTQ COCHAIRS. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 AND WORK AS A NON-PROFIT FUNDRAISER. >> HELLO, I'M IS BR ETT, NO PRONOUNS. I HAVE BEEN SERVING ON THE COMMISSION. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 IN NORTH BEACON HILL AND I WORK IN PIONEER SQUARE. >> HI THERE, I'M PHILLIP LEWIS. I AM WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7 AND THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR SERVING. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE. AND THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND FOR BEING A FELLOW CHAIR FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE ONLINE? >> HI, DO YOU HEAR ME? >> YEAH, WE CAN HEAR YOU. >> AWESOME, HI EVERYONE. I'M KRYSTAL GUERRERO ON THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4 IN WALLFORD AND I HAVE BEEN SERVING ON THE COMMISSION ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS NOW AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT PHILLIP SAID. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT WITH OUR WORK. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> HI EVERYBODY, SO LOVELY TO SEE YOU. I'M JESSICA WITH THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION. SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S TIME. >> WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. >> WELL I GUESS I'LL START. I'M PHILLIP LEWIS. I'M ONE OF THE COCHAIRS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. QUANDER WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE SO I'M REPRESENTING ALL OF US AS COCHAIR. THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ADVOCATES FOR ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS BY ADDRESSING SIMILARRIC INEQUALITIES. ADVISING POLICYMAKERS. TO BUILD A JUST AND INCLUSIVE CITY FOR ALL SEATTLEITES. AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WE JUST CAME OFF OF A RETREAT RECENTLY AND IT WAS EXCITING THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF HAVING CLOSE TO A FULL TEAM AND OUR COMMISSION IS EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK COMING IN THE NEXT YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SHARE REAL QUICK IS THE COMMISSION MAKEUP. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 19 COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE ON THE COMMISSION. JUST AS I NAMED AVERY, BRYENNA AND MYSELF. OUR COMMUNICATIONS LEAD IS JAMES MONGER. OUR FINANCIAL LEAD WAS IN PROCESS WHEN WE MADE THIS PRESENTATION. BUT WE HAVE FILLED THAT POSITION AS WELL. THE COMMISSIONER NICK LADEN WILL BE OUR FINANCE LEAD. AND THE SECRETARY IS GWYNN . NEXT SLIDE. WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR, HAVING A FULL COMMISSION WHICH IS 21 SEATS. WITH DEMOGRAPHICS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMITMENT WITH THE GOAL OF 80% FROM PROTECTED CLASSES. WE ARE AT 19 SEATS LOOKING TO FILL THOSE OTHER TWO SEATS TO HAVE A FULL MISSION IN THE COMING YEAR. WITH THAT, ONE OF THE GOALS WAS ALSO TO FILL ALL LEADERSHIP ROLES AND ENSURE DUTIES AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES ARE HELD. WE JUST FILLED ALL OF OUR LEADERSHIP ROLES WHICH IS EXCITING SO WE ARE MEETING THAT GOAL AS OF RIGHT NOW. THE SECOND IS APPEALS. WE PARTNER WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. THE HRC HURRICANES INTENDS TO MEET WITH THE FOLLOWING, MEET THE FOLLOWING GOALS. TO FULLY STAFF ALL APPEARS HEARINGS. TO MAINTAIN AN APPEALS CHAIR. AND TO PARTICIPATE IN GENERAL HEARINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND APPEALS PROCESS. AND THE FINAL THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE IN THIS TOPIC IS GENERAL ADVOCACY AND GUIDANCE. THE HRC WOULD ADVISE THE CITY OF SEATTLE ON ISSUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN SEATTLE. THIS INCLUDES GENERAL ADVOCACY OF AWARENESS AROUND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES THROUGH THE EVENTS OF OUR HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIP AND CONNECTION WITH RESIDENTS DIRECTLY TO CITY OFFICIALS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUST TO KIND OF ADD TO THAT POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF OUR RETREAT WAS AN EXCITEMENT TO CONNECT TO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS. A NUMBER OF OUR COMMISSIONERS SPAN ACROSS DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. LISTENING TO THE NEEDS THAT COME UP AROUND HUMAN RIGHTS. HOW WE CAN BE PARTNERING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS AND CREATING EVENTS OF BOTH AWARENESS AND ALSO ADVOCACY AND WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO PROMOTE A MORE EQUITABLE CITY. NEXT SLIDE. BASED OUT OF THIS WORK, WE HAVE TASK FORCES. FROM THESE TASK FORCES THE HRC FOCUSES ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. HOUSING AND THE UNHOUSED. AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IN SEATTLE THESE ISSUES WE BELIEVE THESE ISSUES DRIVE SUBSTANTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND ARE TOP OF MIND FOR BOTH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN SEATTLE AND LIVE IN SEATTLE AS WELL. WITH THAT, AS WE BREAK DOWN THE TASK FORCE, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM'S GOALS AND THE WORK THEY DO. THEY SUPPORT REFORMATION OF THE CASH BAIL SYSTEM. SENTENCING REFORM. INCARCERATED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. WE HOPE TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK AND COLLABORATE WITH THEM ON COMMUNITY EVENTS AND EDUCATION EVENTS TO HELP MOVE FORWARD SOME OF THESE REFORMS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN OUR CITY AND BOTH ON A STATE LEVEL. SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WE WOULD HOPE TO WORK WITH ARE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS AND CIVIL SURVIVAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK IN COMMUNITY AND PARTNERING ALONGSIDE THEM IN THAT WORK. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AS I SAID EARLIER WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CREATING ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITIES. THE HRC REALLY BELIEVES THAT THE BEST SOLUTIONS DON'T COME FROM THE TOP DOWN. BUT IT COMES FROM COMMUNITY RAISING THEM UP IN A GRASS ROOTS WAY THAT CREATES SUSTAINABLE CHANGE FOR ALL THAT ARE IMPACTED SPECIFICALLY THOSE ON THE MARGINS. AND SO, WITH THAT FEEDBACK, THE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WE HOPE TO DO THIS WORK MORE EQUITABLY. ONE OF THE FINAL GOALS THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM TASK FORCE HAS IS TO RELATE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES TO YOU ALL TO EXISTING LEGISLATION EFFORTS ON THE AGENDA. AND TO ORGANIZE AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND STATE LEVEL. QUICK QUESTION. DO I STOP FOR QUESTIONS OR IS THAT AT THE END? >> GOOD QUESTION. I THINK WE WILL LET PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO BECAUSE IT IS NOT TOO LONG OF A PRESENTATION. THAT SAID, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS STAGE IN I'M LOOKING AT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. I THINK SHE DOES HAVE A QUESTION. >> SURE. I WAS GOING TO HOLD THEM UNTIL THE END. HI, WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU MENTIONED IT IS YOUR FIRST YEAR IN THIS COMMISSION? >> YES. >> WELCOME. AND THANK YOU. I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF OUR PRESENTATIONS TODAY GIVEN THE STATE OF THE NATIONAL DISCOURSE AROUND OUR BASIC CIVIL LIBERTIES AND LOOKING TO OUR COMMISSIONS AS LEADERS TO GUIDE THE WAY OF HOW WE NAVIGATE THIS TIME. WHAT WE WERE SHARING ABOUT THE WORK PLAN, I HAVE A NATURAL CURIOSITY AROUND THIS BODY OF WORK. LOOKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF IMMIGRATION RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH AN AGENDA RELATED TO MASS DEPORTATION. THINKING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTING WITH IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMISSION AND CURIOUS IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE POTENTIALLY PLANING TO DO AND WHAT SOME OF THE DISCOURSES AROUND MAY BE REFORM IT LIKE THE NORTHWEST DETENTION CENTER. SO I HOPE THAT IS NOT QUITE A FULLY FORMED QUESTION. BUT I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THAT QUESTION. IT FEELS PERTINENT AS IT RELATES TO HUMAN RIGHTS. >> THAT'S A PARTNERSHIP WE WANT TO CULTIVATE IN LIGHT OF THE NATIONAL DISCOURSE AND THE REALITIES THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR THAT. BUT I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS TOP OF MIND FOR OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE SO I WILL TAKE THAT BACK TO OUR TASK FORCE TO SHARE ABOUT HOW WE GET THAT CONVERSATION STARTED. >> THANK YOU. >> I'LL CONTINUE. THE NEXT IS HOUSING AND UNHOUSED TASK FORCE. OUR GOAL IS TO ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING. ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING FOR YOUTH AND EXTENDED FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. AND THE EXTENDED FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 5082. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT 5082 IS, THE BILL, I'LL READ THE BILL CONTEXT FOR YOU ALL. IT ESTABLISHES A NEW HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR YOUTH ENROLLED IN EXTENDED FOSTER CARE IN WASHINGTON STATE. IT AIMS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS AMONG THESE YOUNG INDIVIDUALS AS APPROXIMATELY 13% EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR OF 2024. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ASSOCIATED HOUSING FEES TO ELIGIBLE YOUTH ALLOWING THEM TO RECEIVE SUPPORT WHILE REMAINING DEPENDENT AND STILL BENEFITING FROM PROGRAMS. IT INCLUDES BEING A RECIPIENT OF FOSTER CARE SERVICES AND EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR BEING AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THE BILL MANDATES THE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A TRANSITION PLANNING PROCESS AND EXTENDED FOSTER CARE AT LEAST THREE MONTHS BEFORE THEY TURN 21. SO PREVENTATIVE CARE IN THAT WAY. THE PROCESS WILL ASSESS THEIR HOUSING AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. SUPPORT APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING HOUSING VOUCHERS AND REFERRALS TO VARIOUS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. I WANT TO NOTE IN 2024, 757 YOUTH ENTERED EXTENDED FOSTER CARE ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S YOUTH AND FAMILIES AND WITHIN THAT PROGRAM, 13% OF THOSE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS CURRENTLY. THIS BILL WILL HELP ADDRESS YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE AND ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE. AND SO, WE ARE WANTING TO PARTNER WITH BOTH YOU ALL, CITY OFFICIALS. AND ALSO, STATE OFFICIALS, STATE SENATORS AND HOUSE REPS. IT IS GETTING SUPPORT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND IT IS A BILL THAT A NUMBER OF OUR LOCAL SENATORS IN THE SEATTLE AREA SUPPORT AS WELL. THAT IS ONE OF THE GOALS WE HAVE AS THE HOUSING AND UNHOUSED TASK FORCE. THE SECOND IS TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATION THAT'S ARE NOT LIMITED TO BUT INCLUDE THE WASHINGTON LOW INCOME HOUSING ALLIANCE. SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY. SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER. KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY. THE CITY OF SEATTLE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMPASS HOUSE ALLIANCE. A LOT OF THAT WAS BASED AROUND THE WAY THEY SHOW UP IN COMMUNITY AND ARE A PART OF LARGER CONVERSATIONS ON THE COUNTY AND CITY LEVEL AROUND HOUSING AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND EQUITABLE HOUSING IN THAT WAY. AND THE THIRD AND FINAL GOAL IS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS. >> NEXT SLIDE. >> THE HUMAN RIGHTS TASK FORCE, ONE OF THE FOUR GOALS IS TO FOCUS ON THE FIFA WORLD CUP COMING IN 2026. TO ENHANCE VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES. TO ADDRESS PUBLIC AVAILABLE DATA. TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR TRAFFICKERS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS WORK OF HUMAN TRAFFICKERRING. AND THAT IS THE GOALS FOR THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE. >> EXCUSE ME. SORRY. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS A QUESTION. >> OH YEAH, SORRY. >> THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION HERE SO FAR. NO WORRIES. YOU SHOULD SEE ME UP HERE SOMETIMES. BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. REALLY APPRECIATE THIS BODY OF WORK. LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE AS THE PRESENTATION PROGRESSES. BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GOING BACK TO THE LAST SLIDE YOU WERE ON. THE ONE RIGHT BEFORE THAT. THERE WE GO. TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH. AND SO, COLLEAGUES YOU KNOW THAT I AM A FORMER FOSTER KID. I SPENT THE FIRST NINE YEARS OF MY LIFE IN AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM. MOSTLY IN, IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BEFORE MY FATHER, A NIGERIAN IMMIGRANT, WAS ABLE TO FINALLY TAKE CUSTODY OF ME AND ESSENTIALLY RESCUE ME FROM THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHERE I AM TODAY PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY AND WILL NEVER FORGET MY BACKGROUNDS AND ORIGINS AND THIS BILL SOUNDS IMPORTANT. LIKE IT IS ORIENTED TOWARD HOUSING. HOUSING IS ONE OF MANY CHALLENGES FACING FORMER FOSTER YOUTH. THE STATS ARE DIRE AND BLEAK FOR FOSTER YOUTH. YOU BEEN IN THE SYSTEM ONE DAY, YOUR OUTCOMES IN LIFE ARE HORRIBLE, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING. THERE IS LITERALLY A FOSTER CARE TO PRISON PIPELINE AND FOSTER CARE TO HOMELESSNESS PIPELINE. 40 TO 50% RESPECTIVELY OF KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM ONE DAY END UP DOWN ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE PATHS. AND THAT'S JUST HOUSING. I HAVE ALREADY CHAMPIONED A NUMBER OF ISSUES ON FOSTER YOUTH ON CHAIR MOORE'S COMMITTEE. AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. I ACKNOWLEDGE I HAVE A BLIND SPOT BECAUSE I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS BILL, SENATE BILL 5082. DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THE CURRENT STATUS OF THIS BILL? DO DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE COMMISSION'S OFFICIAL POSITION. DO YOU KNOW THE CITY'S OFFICIAL POSITION ON THIS BILL? AND IF THE ANSWER TO BOTH OF THOSE IS LESS CLEAR RIGHT NOW, THAT'S FINE TOO. >> WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING THE BILL. AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE BELIEVE IT IS IN APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SO IT IS MOVING TOWARDS EXECUTIVE SESSION SO IT IS PRETTY FAR DOWN THE PIPELINE WITHIN THE SESSION NOW. SO ANY SUPPORT WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS. ANY SUPPORT YOU COULD GIVE IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED. I DO NOT KNOW PARTICULARLY WHAT THE CITY'S POSITION IS. >> THAT'S OUR TOIL. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF TESTIFYING ON A FEW BILLS AND ORGANIZING LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGNS AND I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BILL. IS THIS THING ON? OIR? WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE THIS SPECIFIC BILL IS INCLUDED IN YOUR NEXT PRESENTATION. REQUEST ONE. AND, I WILL PERSONALLY BE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND IT IS NOT JUST THIS BILL. BUT OIR IN MY OFFICE VERY WELL KNOWS THAT ANYTHING TIED TO FOSTER YOUTH IS AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY OF MINE AND OUR OFFICE OF HOUSING, AND ANY CITY ADMINISTRATION OF THIS WORK. SO BE ON NOTICE EVERYONE. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CLOSELY TRACKING AND MONITORING AND WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS INCLUDED AND I'LL BE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PERSONALLY CHAMPION THIS AND DO MY PART. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YEAH. JUST SHARING YOUR STORY IN THAT WAY. I THINK IT'S OUR STORIES THAT IMPACT THE POLICIES WE IMPLEMENT IN OUR WORLD TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> ANOTHER QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAME CHAIR. WEIGHING IN ON THIS ISSUE, OF FOSTER YOUTH, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS I SERVED ON THE BOARD OF YOUTH CARE. AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF KIDS WHO GET INTO THE FOSTER SYSTEM AGE OUT AND WIND UP ON THE STREETS SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE GETTING SOME UPDATES AS TO WHERE THIS PARTICULAR SENATE BILL IS S. WHAT OUR POSITION AS A COUNCIL AND A CITY IS. IF WE ARE GOING TO END ADULT HOMELESSNESS, WE NEED TO START WITH YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. AND IF WE STRIVE TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FOSTER SYSTEM AND NOT PENALIZE A KID WHO AGES OUT. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND I WOULD APPRECIATE GETTING CONTINUED INFORMATION AND UPDATES FROM YOU. >> DEFINITELY. THANK YOU VICE CHAIR. WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU. EVEN IF IT IS A RESOLUTION TO BRING A POSITION THAT THE CITY HAS SO IT ELEVATES THAT TO THE STATE LEVEL. IT HELPS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKS WITH YOU ON THAT. >> TO THAT POINT, SO, BEFORE EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION THE COUNCIL SETS FORTH WHAT OUR PRIORITIES WILL BE. IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL ACTUALLY TO HEAR FROM ALL OF THE COMMISSIONS. YOU COULD PRESENT TO US YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED TO THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD MAKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO SUBMIT TO US SO WE ACTUALLY CATCH SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE FOSTER CARE YOUTH BILL. AND LOTS OF OTHER BILLS TOO WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S ENDORSEMENT OF THAT. JUST GOING FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR. KEEP THAT IN MIND. >> THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR INDULGING MY QUESTIONS. I KNOW I DON'T SIT ON THE COMMITTEE. >> YOU'RE AN HONORARY MEMBER. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I WILL ECHO WHAT MOORE SAID. WE HAVE A PRIORITIES LIST AS IT GETS GOING, WE KNOW OTHER BILLS, WE WOULD KNOW ABOUT. SO, NOT JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION WHICH I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE JUST A LIST FROM THE COMMISSIONS ON THE BILLS THAT YOU WILL BE TRACKING THROUGHOUT THIS SESSION IF OTHER BILLS COME UP. YOU KNOW, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO US EMAIL US. SEND US A LIST OF BILLS YOU ALL THINK YOU WOULD LIKE US TO SUPPORT. I THOUGHT I HEARD THERE WERE AT LEAST 1600 BILLS CONSIDERED IN OLYMPIA AT ANY GIVEN TIME THIS SESSION. IN PARTICULAR. SO WE HAVE TO PARTNER TOGETHER TO TRACK ALL OF THESE BILLS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP. AND ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY AS I WAS SITTING TO MY COLLEAGUE WHO I KNOW HAS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. I DO NOT. BUT I DID HELP COVENANT HOUSE IF ANYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH IT. IT IS A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS FOSTER CARE AND OTHER AT RISK AND HOMELESS YOUTH. THEY RUN AWAY AND MAKE THEIR WAY TO COVERAGE INNOCENT HOUSE WHICH HELPS TEACH KIDS ALL THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND ALSO HAVE DONE WORK IN THE COURT SYSTEM WITH FAMILY, ABUSE, AND NEGLECT CASES SO I HAVE SOME NOT DIRECT BUT INDIRECT EXPERIENCE. SOME THINGS WE CAN DO TO REALLY SUPPORT FOSTER CARE KIDS AND OTHER YOUTH WHO ARE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY. AND I WILL SAY TOWARD THAT END I WAS TYPING HERE AND SENT OUR OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AN EMAIL ASKING ABOUT SB5082. WHEN YOU SEE US TYPING UP HERE, IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. WE ARE JUST MOVING IN REALTIME AND NEED TO GET OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. KNOW THAT IS HAPPEN. WE'LL TRACK IT AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO TAKE US TO THE SLIDE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THAT BODY OF WORK. AND WITH FIFA AND THE WORLD CUP COMING UP, WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS COMING INTO THE CITY. THERE IS A CORRELATION WITH A SPIKE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING OPPORTUNITY. ENCOURAGING TO SEE THIS IS PART OF YOUR WORK PLAN FOR THIS YEAR AND WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW YOU ALL ARE BEING INCLUDED. I KNOW THERE ARE PLANNING MEETINGS ALL OVER THE PLACE. I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU ARE BEING INCLUDED AND SUPPORTED. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS THAT YOU ALL CAN HELP SUPPORT US IN THIS WORK AROUND FIFA26, I BELIEVE THERE IS A FIFA ORGANIZING COMMITTEE ON THE CITY LEVEL THAT HAS ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AROUND PLANNING. THE CITY PLANNING FOR FIFA2026. TO GET AN INVITATION OR KNOWING WHEN THE MEETINGS ARE HAPPENING WILL HELP US TO BE IN THOSE ROOMS AND THE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING SO WE CAN WEIGH IN AND BE A DIALOGUE PARTNER IN THE PLANNING AND WORK THAT WE DO. THAT IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE THING. GETTING THROUGH THE DOOR IN THAT WAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. >> AS TO THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I'M GLAD THAT IS ONE OF YOUR AGENDA ITEMS. IT IS AN ISSUE OF SERIOUS CONCERN AND PRIORITY FOR ME. AND IT WOULD BE NICE, WE DO NEED TO FOCUS ON FIFA BUT IT'S HAPPENING EVERY DAY. SO THE EXTENT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TACKLE IT CURRENTLY AS WELL AS FOR THIS MAJOR EVENT I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND LGBTQ COMMISSION. IT CROSSES ALL OF THE COMMISSIONS REALLY THIS WORK. JUST OFFERING THAT INTEREST AND WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH EVERYONE ON THIS AND REALLY TRYING TO. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT IS HAPPENING IS THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS WORKING REALLY SILOED AND WE NEED TO END THE SILOS AND WE REALLY NEED TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO AMPLIFY THE POWER OF THE WORK BEING DONE. THE OTHER THING I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT AND I KNOW IT IS NOT NECESSARILY POPULAR, BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REDUCE DEMAND. WE NEED TO HAVE SOME HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IT IS ABOUT OUR SOCIETY THAT TOLERATES THE DEMAND AND CREATES THE MARKET FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SO THAT IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE I BELIEVE. AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT. NOT NECESSARILY IN A PUNITIVE WAY. THAT IS ONE TOOL THAT IS IMPORTANT TO USE BUT ULTIMATELY, IT NEEDS TO BE A SOCIETAL AND ATTITUDE CHANGE. AND I THINK THE COMMISSIONS ARE A GREAT PLACE TO BEGIN THOSE DISCUSSIONS SO PUTTING THAT OUT THERE. >> THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. AND SUPPORT IN THIS WORK. SO LOOKING AHEAD, SO OUR 2025 FOCUS, AS I SHARED THROUGH THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE IS SUPPORTING BILLS AND INITIATIVES RELATED TO HOUSING AND THE TASK FORCES. PRIORITIES I SHARED THROUGH AN EQUITY AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE LENS. BUILDING AND EXPANDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. MORE LISTENING SESSIONS. AND TO YOUR POINT, MADAME CHAIR, THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO THIS YEAR IS CREATE MORE OF A COALITION WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE CITY AND WITH NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY THESE ISSUES AND THESE PARTICULAR TOPICS. JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS IN COALITIONS WE GET THINGS DONE AND CHANGE OUR SOCIETY FOR THE BETTER IN THAT WAY. AND SO THE TYPE OF SUPPORT WE WOULD LIKE IS THE SUPPORT YOU ARE GIVING RIGHT NOW IN THIS MEETING. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING DIALOGUE PARTNERS AND WORKING TOGETHER ON POSSIBLE RESOLUTIONS. WE ARE WANTING THIS TO BE A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP IN THAT WAY. SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU. IT GOES BOTH WAYS. WE WOULD LIKE YOU FOR ALL TO APPROACH LEGISLATION WITH A RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS THROUGH THE RSJ DIVISION WORKS PILLARS. THIS WAS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS ESTABLISHED TO HELP US CREATE POLICY ON ALL LEVELS OF THE GOVERNANCE THAT IMPACT COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED SO SOME OF THE KIND OF VALUES OF THAT IS TO CENTER THOSE MOST IMPACTED BECAUSE THOSE ARE WHERE THE SOLUTIONS COMPOST EQUITABLY FROM AND THE PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED KNOW WHAT THEY NEED. JUSTICE SHOULD BE THE FIRST CONSIDERATION, NOT THE LAST. HEALING IS A NECESSARY PATHWAY TO JUSTICE. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE RSJ'S VALUES IN THE WORK THEY DO ON THE CITY LEVEL. WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD COLLABORATE WITH US AND LEGISLATE THROUGH YOUR CAPACITY FROM THIS LENS. THE SECOND THING, TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO COMMISSIONERS. I'M ALREADY HEARING YOU ARE EXCITED TO DIALOGUE AROUND THE WORK WE ARE DOING. SO JUST THAT CONTINUED OPENNESS AND ACCESSIBILITY IS KEY. AND HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH COUNCIL. THOSE INITIATIVES THAT FOCUS ON OUR AREAS THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW. WORKING RELATIONSHIP AS I MENTIONED. AND COLLABORATION ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND SO, KNOWING AHEAD OF TIME, JUST WHAT Y'ALL'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS. AND HOW WE CAN BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS AS WELL. AND THAT IS MY PRESENTATION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> NO I DON'T THINK SO. >> AWESOME. WELL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW ONTO THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. >> I THERE. I'M EMILY ROSE AND ONE OF THE COCHAIRS OF THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING. MY FELLOW COCHAIR KRYSTAL IS ALSO HERE. SHE IS ATTENDING ONLINE. SO JUST A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, OUR ROLE IS TO ADVISE THE MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL ON WOMEN'S ISSUES. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE FOCUS AREAS WHICH ARE GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACCESS. THE COMMISSION AIMS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES THROUGH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, ADVOCACY AND INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS. AND A BRIEF INTRODUCTION. I'M EMILY. I JOINED THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. I WAS NEW TO SEATTLE. I MOVED TO SEATTLE A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO. AND I WAS REALLY EAGER TO GET INVOLVED AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVELS. ONCE I SAW THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION EXISTED I KNEW IT WAS THE COMMISSION I WANTED TO BE A PART OF. OUTSIDE OF MY COMMISSION WORK I WORK AS A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST WHERE I WORK WITH WOMEN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SO I SERVE WOMEN IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON AND ON THE EAST COAST AND MARYLAND. OBVIOUSLY. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. COLUMBIA CITY. I HAVE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR A YEAR NOW. AND REALLY LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SOME OF MY HOBBIES INCLUDE HIKING, BAKING, LISTENING TO AUDIO BOOKS AND EXPLORING ALL OF SEATTLE. AND CAN KRYSTAL INTRODUCE HERSELF ONLINE? I'LL HAND IT OVER TO KRYSTAL TO INTRODUCE HERSELF. KRYSTAL, IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. >> THANKS EMILY. I GAVE A QUICK INTRODUCTION A LITTLE EARLIER BUT I WILL QUICKLY SHARE AGAIN I HAVE BEEN WITH THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS. I SERVED AS CHAIR FOR A LITTLE BIT OVER A YEAR-AND-A-HALF. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. I SEE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS ON. HI. I LOVE BEING YOUR CONSTITUENT. AND I USED TO WORK AT A NON-PROFIT THAT SUPPORTED GETTING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. SHE JUMPS. AND I WORK AT AT&T AND DIGITAL MARKETING. EMILY, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO YOU. >> THANK YOU. SO NOW I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR WORK PLAN FOR THIS YEAR. SO OUR GENDER BASED VIOLENCE SUBCOMMITTEE, OUR MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. INCREASE ACCESS AND PROMOTE HEALTHY AND SAFE SITUATIONS. WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS SPEAKING ABOUT GENDER BASED VIOLENCE TO FURTHER UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND MULTILEVEL RESPONSE. TO ORGANIZE AN EVENT TO ELEVATE LOCAL VOICES WORKING TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND INFORMATION RELATED TO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ON THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND WEBSITE. NEXT SUBCOMMITTEE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, OUR MISSION IS TO ADDRESS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DISPARITIES AFFECTING PEOPLE IN SEATTLE BY ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUALS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF LIMITED ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND INSPIRATIONAL INSPIRATIONS. FINDING THE COMMISSION'S VOICE TO PROVIDE INSTITUTIONAL BACKING FOR KEY POLICY AND COMMUNITY BASED INITIATIVES. AND AMPLIFYING THE VOICES AND WORK OF COMMUNITY GROUPS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND OTHER STAKE HOLDERS BY SHARING LOCAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE RELATED INFORMATION AND OUR THIRD AND FINAL SUBCOMMITTEE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACCESS. OUR MISSION IS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS BARRIERS TO SHELTER AND HOUSING AND SUPPORT SAFE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN SEATTLE. TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY ADDING THE NECESSARY PROFISSIONS TO THE 2025 BUDGET PROPOSAL IN SUPPORTING OTHER LEGISLATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE FOCUSED ON WOMEN AND FAMILIES TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND THROUGH SHARING AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. LOOKING AHEAD, SOME GOALS FOR THIS YEAR ARE AGAIN WORKING TO INITIATE PREVENTION EFFORTS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TRAFFICKING AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP. WE WOULD LIKE T COUNTY CLINIC IN APRIL OF 2025. WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC AGENCIES TO PRODUCE THE LARGEST FREE CLINIC OF ITS KIND AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACCESS. WE WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THE WASHINGTON HOUSING CONFERENCE WHICH IS HAPPENING IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. IN BELLEVUE AND A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. IT IS WASHINGTON'S MOST SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING GUIDANCE INNOVATION AND SOLUTIONS AND LED BY THE WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING FINANCE COMMISSION AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. AND WASHINGTON LOW INCOME HOUSING ALLIANCE. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE HOUSING WASHINGTON CONFERENCE IS TO ENHANCE THE SKILLS DIVISION AND UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE WORKING IN WASHINGTON STATE AN CHALLENGE THEM TO WORK TOWARD RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION INCLUDE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS LIAISONS TO DEVELOP PROCLAMATIONS FOR ANNUAL EVENTS LIKE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN MARCH, SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS DAY IN APRIL. AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN OCTOBER. AND WE ARE CONSIDERING HOSTING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EVENT IN OCTOBER. THAT'S ALL. ANY QUESTIONS? THANKING YOU HAVING US HERE TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF OUR COMMISSION. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> THANK YOU CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. I WILL SAY THIS WORK IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART FOR MANY YEARS I SAT ON THE NORTHWEST WOMEN'S LAW CENTER WHICH THEN BECAME LEGAL VOICE. ALL THESE ISSUES, THE GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND HOUSING ACCESS. IT IS SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THE COMMISSION DOES AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK ON BEHALF OF WOMEN IN THE CITY. SO PLEASE, I AM A PARTNER. PLEASE DO REACH OUT AND LET ME KNOW OF WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY CURRENT BILLS YOU ARE TRACKING IN OLYMPIA. WHICH IS QUITE FRANKLY OF CONCERN TO ME. GIVEN THAT ALL THE BILLS THAT I SAID ARE BEFORE OLYMPIA AND ANYWAY, SO JUST MOVING FORWARD, PLEASE KNOW I AM A STRONG FRIEND AND DO FLAG THINGS THAT YOU THINK I AND THIS COUNCIL CAN HELP SUPPORT WITH. WE VERY MUCH CARE AND I KNOW THAT CHAIR, YOU CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THESE ISSUES TOO AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EMILY AND CRYSTAL. THANK YOU. >> WAS IT SAKA OR RINCK THAT WAS NEXT? COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> I THINK COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WAS NEXT. >> OH, OKAY, GO AHEAD. SORRY. >> EMILY, KRYSTAL, THANK YOU FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION. A LOT OF THE TOPIC AREAS THAT YOU ARE FOCUSED ON, ON THE COMMISSION ARE FRONT OF MIND FOR ME AS WELL. AGAIN, NAVIGATING INCREASINGLY UNCERTAIN TIMES AND I WANTED TO FOCUS ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NAME FOR OUR COMMUNITY JUST IN DECEMBER, WE SAW VIRGINIA MASON CLOSE THEIR BIRTH CENTER AND CUT REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS BY I BELIEVE IT WAS ELIMINATING THE OPTION FOR ABORTION ACCESS AND VISCESTOMYS. IT IS A REALLY HARD REALITY FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IF A STATE SUCH AS OURS AND A COMMUNITY SUCH AS OURS WHICH HAS TAKEN STEP TO PROTECT THIS KIND OF ACCESS BECAUSE OF A HOSPITAL MERGER WE HAVE HAD FOLKS WITHIN THIS CITY LOSE ACCESS TO THOSE HEALTH CARE SERVICES. SO I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW YOU ARE ENGAGING ON THAT MATTER. IF YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR US ON HOW WE DO WORK IN THE CITY COUNCIL LEVEL TO BOLSTER AND WORK ON THIS. JUST WANTED TO NAME THAT. AND ALSO JUST SEEK YOUR COUNCIL ON WHAT WE COULD BE DOING. >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. ONE OF OUR LARGEST GOALS FOR THIS YEAR IS JUST TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. LIKE THE CLOSING OF THAT CENTER . THE SERVICES NO LONGER BEING AVAILABLE. THE ABORTION SERVICES. WITH REGARD TO THE CLOSING OF VIRGINIA MASON, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO AREN'T AWARE OF THE NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS OF THE HOSPITAL MERGERS. WITH HOSPITAL MERGERS THEY ARE OFTEN PRESENTED AS A BENEFIT TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY BUT THE NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ARE OVERSHADOWED AND I THINK KNOWLEDGE IS POWER SO COMMUNICATING TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY THAT THESE CLOSURES ARE HAPPENING. THAT THESE MARGERS ARE HAPPENING AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US. AS FAR AS HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL, THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE STILL BRAINSTORMING AROUND. AND JUST HAPPY TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU AS THESE CLOSURES AND INITIATIVES ARE TAKING PLACE HAVING YOUR BACKING AND YOUR SUPPORT AND COLLABORATING AROUND WHAT WE CAN DO TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND TACKLE THESE ISSUES HEAD ON IS A PRIORITY. IT IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS HOW WE DO THAT. BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONTINUE FOCUSING ON SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING AND FOR YOUR COMMIT. TO SUPPORTING US IN THAT WAY. KRYSTAL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? >> YEAH, THAT WAS GREAT EMILY. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE HAVE SIX NEW COMMISSIONERS JOINING OUR COMMISSION. AND WE HAVE OUR RETREAT ON MARCH 1st. THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 1600 BILLS. THAT PERTAINS TO WOMEN'S HEALTH AND OUR RIGHTS AND SO MUCH WORK HAS TO BE DONE TO FIGHT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S BS. SO WE WILL COME TOGETHER. WE WILL PUT OUR BRAINS TOGETHER WORK ON AS MUCH AS WE CAN. WITH YOUR SUPPORT I'M SURE WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK TOGETHER. SO MORE TO COME FROM THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. SO GLAD TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR. I'M GLAD THAT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WENT FIRST. I THINK HER HAND WAS RAISED BEFORE ME. BUT EVEN IF IT WASN'T I'M GLAD SHE WENT FIRST BECAUSE THIS IS A PRESENTATION FROM THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION SO IT IS APPROPRIATE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND RINCK GO FIRST. RATHER THAN THE DUDE JUMP IN HEY, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. KRYSTAL AS WELL, THANKS FOR CALLING OUT. IT'S A TECHNICAL TERM, BS, THE ADMINISTRATION'S BS. IN ANY EVENT, IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO, BUT I APPRECIATE THIS WORK. AND I ENDEAVOR TO BE THE BEST ALLY THAT I CAN BE IN SUPPORT AND UPLIFT AND AMPLIFY THE WORK YOU ALL DO. EVERY DAY. IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT SAYS LOOKING AHEAD PLEASE. SO I NOTE IT TALKS GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN WORLD CUP. WE WANT TO HAVE A SAFE, SECURE, FUN, AND INCLUSIVE WORLD CUP. AND ONE THAT WHERE THE BENEFITS ARE SHARED AND THE BURDENS ARE MINIMIZED. NOT NONE, BECAUSE WHEN A MILLION NET NEW VISITORS ARE CRUNCHED INTO THE CITY, THERE WILL BE NONTRIVIAL IMPACTS ON TRAFFIC AND OTHER THINGS BUT MY HOPE IS THOSE BURDENS WOULD BE MINIMIZED AND THEN, THE BENEFITS WOULD BE SHARED BROADLY. THAT'S MY VISION AT LEAST. THOSE ARE MY PRIORITIES AT A HIGH LEVEL AT WORLD CUP. I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN THOUGHT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS LEGITIMATE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH WORLD CUP PERTAINING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TRAFFICKING. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THAT RISK. AND THEN TWO, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CITY CAN DO OR WHAT MORE DO YOU THINK THE CITY CAN DO TO HELP MITIGATE THAT RISK? AND OTHER GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, IT IS NOT ALL ON THE CITY. BUT ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE POLICY, NON-PROFIT SPACE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS TO HELP MITIGATE AND PREVENT? >> ABSOLUTELY. GREAT QUESTION. AS YOU KNOW, THE WORLD CUP IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL BE COMING TO OUR CITY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE DATA SHOWS MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TRAFFICKED. MOST WOMEN BEING TRAFFICKED ARE COMING FROM AT RISK COMMUNITIES. USUALLY LOWER INCOME. SOMETHING I NOTICED AND WAS DISCUSSING WITH EMILY. AT THE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL IN SEATAC. WE ONLY HAVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING MESSAGING IN ENGLISH. IF WE ARE ONLY HAVING HUMAN TRAFFICKING INFORMATION IN ENGLISH, HOW ARE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD GET HELP IF THEY CAN'T READ ENGLISH? AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK INTO IS WHAT ARE THE THREE OR FOUR MAIN LANGUAGES OF THE PEOPLE BEING TRAFFICKED COME FROM AND HOW DO WE HAVE THESE SYSTEMS IN PLACE IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING MOST TRAFFICKED? THINK OF AIRPORTS, THE PORT OF SEATTLE. AND OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN CAN GET THE HELP THEY NEED. THAT IS JUST ONE IDEA. THE SCOPE IS SO HUGE. AND SO MANY THINGS CAN BE DONE. BUT THAT IS JUST SOMETHING WE COULD POTENTIALLY PARTNER ONTO HAVE THESE SYSTEMS IN PLACE IN THE LANGUAGES THAT VICTIMS ARE SPEAKING. SO THAT'S ONE IDEA. HAPPY TO DISCUSS MORE. BUT YEAH. WE WOULD LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND OTHER COMMISSIONS WORKING ON THIS AS WELL. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REGARDING THE WORLD CUP, LET'S NOT FORGET WE HAVE THE CLUB CUP COMING THIS YEAR. SO SEATTLE ALREADY HAS AN ISSUE WITH TRAFFICKING IN CERTAIN SECTORS AND WITH WORLDWIDE EVENTS COMING TO US IT WILL BE EXACERBATED SO I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU IN WHATEVER CAPACITY I CAN. REGARDING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH I SHARE COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S CONCERN ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND WHAT THAT WILL DO TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND OUR SISTERS BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THEIR OWN BODIES SO VERY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A WALL AGAINST WHAT THE FEDS MAY WANT TO TRY TO DO TO US LOCALLY. IN ADDITION I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THE NEXT PRESENTATION REGARDING THE LGBTQ COMMISSION BECAUSE AGAIN, REGARDING OUR TRANS NEIGHBORS, OUR TRANS FAMILY MEMBERS, OUR TRANS STAFF WHO ARE UNDER THREAT, THIS IS VERY PERSONAL FOR ME. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THE UPCOMING PRESENTATION REGARDING THAT COMMISSION. SO THANKING YOU. >> THANK YOU. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND LGBTQ AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONS INVITED TO THE FIFA ORGANIZING COMMITTEE. SO WE CAN WORK ON THAT MAYBE, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, WE CAN WORK ON THAT. JUST TO POINT OUT THE LOSS OF REPRODUCTIVE CARE AT VIRGINIA MASON. THERE HAS BEEN A BILL IN OLYMPIA MANY YEAR TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WHEN THERE'S HOSPITAL MERGERS THAT PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE HOSPITALS ARE BEING BOUGHT OUT BY RELIGIOUS HOSPITALS, CATHOLIC HOSPITALS, SWEDISH IS ACTUALLY A CATHOLIC HOSPITAL. BUT THEY KEPT THE NAME SWEDISH SO PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE AWARE OF THAT. AND THAT BILL WHICH WAS TO REQUIRE THAT THE HOSPITALS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REPRODUCTIVE CARE CONTINUES TO NOT GET TRACTION. AND UNFORTUNATELY, BY OTHER DEMOCRATS IT IS NOT GETTING TRACTION. SO WE NEED TO CALL ON OUR FELLOW DEMOCRATS TO STAND UP TO THE HOSPITAL INDUSTRY AND MAKE SURE PARTICULARLY IN THIS TIME THAT WE GET THIS BILL PASSED. SO TO THE EXTENT WE CAN HELP WITH THAT, I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO DO SO. AND REALLY, IF WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE WE BRING YOU ALL TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT KIND OF A COORDINATED EFFORT ON SORT OF THESE INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES, I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT AS WELL. AND JUST THE SIMPLE IDEA OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE MESSAGES IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE BEING TRAFFICKED, THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO. WE CAN QUICKLY GET LEGISLATION, WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY QUAKILY. WE CAN BE MOVING THAT IN TIME. EVEN THESE SMALL CHANGES CAN HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT. SO PLEASE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US WITH THESE SUGGESTS. WE REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS REGARD. ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK AND PRESENTATION. AND WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE LGBTQ COMMISSION. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. BOTH HERE IN PERSON AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING ONLINE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING ON THE LGBTQ COMMISSION AND GIVE MORE INSIGHT INTO OUR 2024 WORK PLAN. WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE COMMUNITY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. A LOT OF THE PRESENTATION FALLS INTO THE THEME. AND YOU'LL SEE PICTURES THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION AS WELL FROM OUR INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE THIS YEAR AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY EVENTS. ON THIS SLIDE YOU WILL SEE A FULL LIST OF OUR CONFIRMED AND AWAITING COMMISSIONERS AS WELL AS A PHOTO FROM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT OUR ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT WHERE WE CELEBRATED A YEAR OF GROWTH AND STARTED TO PREPARE FOR WHAT IS TO COME FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION. YEAH. NEXT SLIDE. ON THE SCREEN NOW, YOU WILL SEE A SNIPPET FROM OUR POST ELECTION STATEMENT. AS YOU ARE LIKELY AWARE AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY, THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION HAS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED ITSELF AS HOSTILE TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. ALREADY ISSUING MULTIPLE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT'S ARE DIRECTLY TARGETING TRANS AND GENDER NONCONFORMING FOLKS. IN SEATTLE WE ARE SEEING ALREADY THE REMOVAL OF LGBTQ COORDINATORS AT THE VA HOSPITAL. THE ABANDONMENT OF GENDER AFFIRMING CARE AT SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE IS ERASING OF LGBTQ PROGRAMS, EMPLOYEE GROUPS, EVEN PRONOUNS IN EMAIL SIGNATURES. THERE IS INCREASING FEARS LOCALLY FROM LGBTQ NON-PROFITS. ESPECIALLY THOSE WORKING TO REDUCE HIV AND HOMELESSNESS LEVELS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. I LIST THESE EXAMPLES AS JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHERE WE WILL BE THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND FURTHER. AS WE SHARE OUR WORK TODAY, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE WILL LIKELY SPEND A LOT OF THE YEAR ALSO WORKING TO ENSURE THAT OUR LBBTQ COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE IS SAFE FROM THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND REACTING TO VARIOUS ATTACKS WE ANTICIPATE WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO HELP KEEP SEATTLE AS A WELCOMING CITY AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO LIVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE HERE. SEATTLE HAS POSITIONED ITSELF AS A GREAT PLACE FOR QUEER PEOPLE TO COME TO AND WE REALLY WANT TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE IT REMAINS THAT PLACE AND WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. NEXT SLIDE. SO, RIGHT NOW, THIS IS HOW WE ARE ORGANIZING OUR WORK. WE HAVE THREE STANDING COMMITTEES. OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY DOING A LOT OF WORK RECENTLY TO BOLSTER OUR PRESENCE ONLINE AND WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS MAKING SURE WE ARE GETTING INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE ON GROUND DOING THE WORK AND PROVIDE OURSELVES AS A RESOURCE. YOU MET WITH MEMBERS OF OUR COMMISSION AND NON-PROFIT GROUPS AND THIS CAME FROM THE WORK THIS COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT COMMITTEE IS A COMMISSION OPERATIONS KEEPING EVERYTHING RUNNING. AND LASTLY OUR JUSTICE COMMITTEE KEEPS US HONEST TO OUR COMMITMENT TO LEAD WITH AN INTERSECTIONAL AND TRANS FOCUSED LENS. WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO CREATE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES. WE REALLY TRYING TO UPLIFT THE WORK OF GROUPS ON THE GROUND WHO ARE WORKING WITH THOSE WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED BY POLICIES, SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION THAT IMPACTS FOLKS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL VENTURES THIS YEAR HAS BEEN CREATING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADE UP OF THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN WHO ARE ALL WORKING TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND HEALTH EQUITY WITHIN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. WE CHOSE THESE GROUP TO HAVE A WIDE BREADTH OF WHO WE ARE SERVING. WE ARE DOING WORK WITH LATIN, BLACK, DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH PACIFIC ISLANDER, ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND OUR TWO OVERARCHING ORGANIZATIONS. THIS YEAR, WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO CREATE A SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOGNIZING THAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FROM THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY FACE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES WHEN TRYING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. NEXT SLIDE. >> I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF TAKING YOU THROUGH OUR THREE WORK PLAN PILLARS FOR OUR TWO YEAR WORK PLAN. THE FIRST IS SOCIO ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND THE SECOND IS COMMISSION SUSTAINABILITY. IN THE PHYSICAL LOWING SLIDES YOU WILL SEE AN EXPLANATION OF OUR FOCUS AND YOU WILL SEE EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON. THE GREEN ARE THE ITEMS WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR. THE RED, ARE THE ITEMS WE WORKED ON AND DIDN'T GET THE RESULTS WE WANTED AND THE BOLD ARE THE ONES WE REALLY WANT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH CITY COUNCIL ON. SO FOR US, SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT MEANS JOB DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. INCREASING FUNDS FOR QUEER BUSINESSES, PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS. SO, AS ASHLEY MENTIONED WE ARE WORKING ON CREATING A SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK, WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL CAN REALLY HELP US OUT, WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU TO INCREASE THE TRANSGENDER ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FUNDING. THAT IS UNDER THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW IN THE PAST. IT HAS BEEN USED TO HELP TRANS PEOPLE APPLY FOR AND OBTAIN INCLUSIVE JOBS AND IT HAS BEEN USED TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. SO ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE IT IS IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT TRANS PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE. WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU TO INCREASE THAT FUNDING BY 50%. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OH, OKAY, OUR SECOND PILLAR IS COMMISSION SUSTAINABILITY. INCREASING, DIVERSITIES AND MAINTAINING OUR MEMBERSHIP. ESTABLISHING CLEAR PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES. AND WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB THIS YEAR OF GROWING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING AND GROWING OUR MEMBERSHIP. WE ARE WORKING ON OUR COMMISSION RIGHT NOW. AND WHERE WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH CITY COUNCIL IS ON TWO TOPICS. FIRST, ON MAKING SURE THAT COMMISSIONERS GET APPOINTED IN A TIMELY MANNER. WHEN THEY GET APPOINTED QUICKLY THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET ENGAGED IN THE COMMISSION. AND STIPENDS. WE PUT IN A LOT OF HOURS, IT IS A LABOR OF LOVE BUT IT ALSO MEANS THIS WORK IS NOT FINANCIALLY ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHOSE VOICES MOST NEED TO BE HEARD. SO IF WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY FOR STIPENDS THAT MEANS THAT WE CAN DIVERSIFY OUR COMMISSION IN A WAY THAT IS REALLY MEANINGFUL TO US AND THAT IS IMPORTANT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OUR THIRD PILLAR IS HEALTH EQUITY. AND FOR US THAT MEANS SUPPORTING PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY'S SPECIFIC HEALTH NEEDS ESPECIALLY AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY. THIS IS WHY WE FOCUSED ON WATCHING OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH. A LIST OF RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SAFE SHELTER BEDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE QUEER COMMUNITY. ESPECIALLY THE QTBIPOC COMMUNITY. IT IS SCARIER IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE SHELTER WILL ACCEPT YOU BASED ON WHO YOU ARE. SO WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING SAFETY . OKAY WE BROUGHT OUR NON-PROFIT MEMBERS TO MEET A NUMBER OF STIFF COUNCIL MEMBERS. PLEASE SCHEDULE THE MEETINGS WITH US. WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH PARKS AND RECREATION WITH THEIR COMMUNITY FUND. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON INTEGRATING OURSELVES WITH THE COMMUNITY, EVEN MORE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR. SO TABLING, PRIDE FLAG RAISING. IT WAS A GREAT TIME LAST YEAR. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WE WOULD FINALLY LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EMPHASIZE WE TAKE OUR ROLE AS AN ADVISORY COMMISSION VERY SERIOUSLY. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO MEET ALL OF YOU. PLEASE COME ASK US ABOUT TOPICS RELATED TO OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE COME TO OUR MEETINGS. THEY ARE THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH IN THE EVENING. NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER. AND KEEP SEATTLE A WELCOMING CITY. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> CHAIR, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION. YOU ALL CAME TO ME. THE COMMISSION CAME TO MEET WITH ME LAST YEAR. AND I APPRECIATE THE PROACTIVE REACHING OUT TO ME TO SHARE ABOUT PRIORITIES AND TALK PARTNERSHIPS SO I WELCOME THAT FROM ALL THE COMMISSIONS. SO OPEN TO CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS AND I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU CHAIR. >> I FORGOT TO PUT DOWN MY OLD HAND. BUT QUICKLY ADJUSTED. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMISSION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TIMES. I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH YOU ARE JUST CLEARLY NAMING TO THE PUBLIC WHAT IS GOING ON. AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE ATTACKS AND ERASURE HAPPENING TO OUR TRANS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NAME THAT AS SEATTLE CONTINUE TO BE A WELCOMING CITY AND STANDS BY THESE VALUES. WE WILL LIKELY HAVE NEW NEIGHBORS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE OVER THE YEARS. FOLKS WHO ARE SEEKING POLITICAL REFUGE BECAUSE WE ARE A CITY THAT RECOGNIZES AND SEES QUEER AND TRANS INDIVIDUALS. AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE NAMING WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON. I CERTAINLY WANT TO CALL ON MY COLLEAGUES TO CONTINUE TO NAME WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND WHAT OUR QUEER AND TRANS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN FACING. TO THAT END, HEARING A CALL TO MAKE SURE WE GET APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS DONE ON TIME, I THINK THIS IS A CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING ACROSS THE BOARD. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE DONE ON A TIMELY MANNER. I KNOW WE ARE WAITING ON FOLKS IN THE RENTERS COMMISSION AS WELL. LET'S GET THOSE IN. I DON'T WANT TO DISSUADE THE PUBLIC FROM ENGAGING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT THE ABILITY TO BRING ONLINE MORE SAFE SHELTER BEDS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND WORKING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THAT IS AN ACTION ITEM IN THEIR FIVE YEAR PLAN IDENTIFIED AS A HUGE GAP IN OUR SYSTEM. WE DON'T HAVE SHELTER BED OR EMERGENCY SHELTER CAPACITY OR SPACES FOR TRANS INDIVIDUALS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A MAJOR GAP IN THE SYSTEM. IT DOESN'T EXIST. I KNOW BECAUSE I DID THE COUNTY WIDE ANALYSIS ON IT. WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS OUT OF 450 THAT ACTUALLY ARE SPECIFIC FOR SERVING LGBTQIA POPULATIONS. THAT FEELS LIKE A MEANINGFUL AREA WHERE WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS. AND WANT TO SUPPORT AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS THEY LOOK TO REPROCURE THEIR SYSTEM. ALL OF THIS TO SAY, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL. OTHER THAN HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO NOTE, TOO, WE RECENTLY HAD A COMMISSIONER TO WORKS WITH QUEER YOUTH BRING TO OUR COMMISSION THEY ACTUALLY FACE LIMITATIONS WHEN TRYING TO GET QUEER PEOPLE INTO THOSE SPACES THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY RESERVED FOR QUEER FOLKS. AND WERE FORCED TO PUT NON-QUEER IDENTIFYING PERSON INTO SOME OF THESE SPACES DUE TO CONFLICTING LEGISLATION THAT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO PUT SOMEONE IN SPACES BASED ON IDENTITIES SO HA IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE WE FACE AS WELL. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION FROM SOME OF OUR COMMISSIONERS. SO DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE THAT PEOPLE FACE AND A REASON PEOPLE DON'T SEEK SHELTER AS WELL. IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU, YOU CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE SAFE WITHIN THE SHELTERS, IT OFTEN IS PUT ON THE BACKS OF QUEER PEOPLE TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN SAFETY AND SECURITY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU ALL DO EVERY DAY. CURRENTLY ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. IT IS A HEAVY LIFT. A NONTRIVIAL AMOUNT OF EFFORT. BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE IMPACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE. REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF. GOING BACK TO YOUR SLIDE THAT SAYS SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. TALK A LITTLE BIT. I LEARN STUFF ALL THE TIME. GREAT JOB. ASSEMBLING THIS PRESENTATION A MADAME CHAIR. LEARNING STUFF ALL OVER. WE HAVE HUNDREDS, PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED THROUGH 40 PLUS DEPARTMENTS AT THE CITY. AND EIGHT POINT SOMETHING BILLION ANNUAL BUDGET. I DON'T HAVE VISIBILITY ON ALL OF THOSE. BUT CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRANS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FUNDING THROUGH I THINK YOU SAID OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT PROGRAM. WHAT IT DOES IN YOUR OWN ASSESS. AND OBSERVATIONS THAT IT IMPACTS. THANK YOU. >> SO I ACTUALLY, I GUESS IT IS RELATED. I HAD A HARD TIME FINDING THE EXACT LANGUAGE. BUT YES, IT IS UNDER OAD. IT IS CURRENTLY AT $185,000. WHICH IS ALSO GREAT BUT ADDING 50% MEANS MORE STAFF ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PROGRAMS LIKE THESE. WE ALL KNOW. NON-PROFITS. PRICES AT A PREMIUM RIGHT NOW FOR OPERATING A NON-PROFIT. SO INCREASING BY 50% MEANS MORE PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET JOB TRAINING OR HELP FILLING OUT THEIR DOCUMENTATION. IN THE PAST IT WAS USED FOR HELPING PEOPLE TO GET IDENTITY DOCUMENTS LIKE THINGS RELATED TO JOB COACHING. AND LAST YEAR, OAD ACTUALLY ASKED US TO HELP WITH ASSESSING AN APPLICATION FOR I THINK IT WAS AUTO REPAIR TRANSFORMATION AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION WITH THEM AND WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE SAW. IF YOU WOULD LIKE, I CAN WORK WITH OED AND GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE FUNDS TO YOU. >> THANK YOU. YES. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE. BUT LET ME AND MY OFFICE WORK WITH OED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A COOL PROGRAM. YOU ALL DO A LOT. IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED SHARING THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LISTEN AND CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE. THANK YOU. >> I THINK A BIG PIECE, SORRY TO ADD ONTO BRETT'S ANSWER. YOU MENTIONED BRIEFLY. I WANT TO ELEVATE THE ACCESS TO FINDING THESE FUNDS. I WORK AS A NON-PROFIT PROFESSIONAL AND SEEK CITY FUNDS. PRETTY REGULARLY. IS ONLY REASON WE REALLY KNEW ABOUT IT AND KNEW THAT THERE WAS REALLY ONLY ONE APPLICANT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS OED PERSON WHO REACHED OUT TO US. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF THIS. HOW CAN WE HELP GET THE WORD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SO THE FUNDS CAN BE USED. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAME CHAIR. SO, COUPLE OF THINGS. DID I HEAR YOU SAY THIS FUND THAT IS AN OED THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT 185,000? THAT IS BUDGET DUST. WE CAN DO MORE THAN THAT. AND NOT A QUESTION BUT AN OFFER. EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONS THAT HAS PRESENTED TO US TODAY AND I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE, YOU ARE ALL DOING VERY IMPORTANT WORK. ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNCERTAINTY LOOMING IN THE HORIZON AND THE THREATS TO OUR PEOPLE AND OUR LIBERTIES. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE YOU UP ON THE INVITATION TO MEET UP WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR WORK AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK AS WELL AS HOW YOUR WORK CAN SUPPORT, SPEAKER ESPECIALLY THE LGBTQ COMMISSION. SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. MY CHILD. SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF MY STAFF. WHO ARE BASICALLY, THEY HAVE CROSS HAIRS ON THEM RIGHT NOW. SO AGAIN, IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME. SO PLEASE CONNECT WITH MY OFFICE AND LET'S GET SOME TIME ON THE CALENDAR. ALL RIGHT? THANK YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> OKAY, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE PAGER AND TO THE EXTENT THAT KCRHA IS PUTTING TOGETHER AN EXTENSIVE DATA BASE. WE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT ABOUT THAT. AND WE ARE GOING TO GET YOUR REMAINING FOUR PEOPLE APPOINTED. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MY CLERK IS THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND THEY ARE JUST WAITING FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO FINALIZE. SO THAT WILL BE HAPPENING SOON. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE NOW ONTO THE DISABILITY COMMISSION. >> WONDERFUL. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AND SHARE ABOUT THE DISABILITY COMMISSION. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION GROUNDS ITS WORK IN THE FOLLOWING. QUOTE, WE BELIEVE IN A WORLD WHERE DISABILITY IS CELEBRATED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF HUMAN DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVITY AND EQUITY. THE WORK PLAN THAT WE ARE GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU REPRESENTS OUR ACTUALIZATION OF THIS BELIEF. AND OUR WORK IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH OUR FOUR PASSIONATE COMMISSIONERS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 2024 THROUGH 2026, WE HAVE THREE MAJOR FOCUSES THAT REPRESENT CORE ISSUES OF THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ACTIVELY ENGAGED ON ACTIVITIES WITHIN THESE FOCUSES THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN 2025. THESE THREE FOCUSES ARE PRESENTED IN BRIEF. STARTING WITH ADVOCACY. WE HOPE TO AMPLIFY THE VOICE THROUGH THE COMMISSION. EXAMPLES OF HOW WE HAVE DONE SO INCLUDE THE SPONSORSHIP FOR THE LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE FOR THE DISABILITY CONFERENCE. INPUT OF THE FUNDS TO CREATE SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY FUND. AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON ANTI-AGEISM TRAINING. OUR GOALS FOR 2025 CONTINUE TO GROW OUR COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN ENGAGE IN SPECIFIC TASKS ESPECIALLY TO ADDRESS ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS WE HAVE HEARD SURROUNDING PUBLIC EVENTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE SECOND MAJOR AREA OF CONCERN IS IS TRANSPORTATIONS ARE THE TOPIC OF CONCERN TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. TOUCHING UPON ITEMS FROM ACCESSIBLE PARKING AND SIDEWALKS TO ASPECTSOVER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THE SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION MAINTAINS ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SDOT, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, MEMBERS OF THE ADA COORDINATION TEAM. THESE GROUPS ARE FREQUENT VISITERS TO OUR MEETINGS. WHO SEEK FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMISSION ON ITS PROJECTS WHILE PROVIDING UPDATES ON THE MANY ACTIVITIES THEY ARE PURSUING TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY ACROSS THE CITY. IT INCLUDES THE INSTALLATION OF WHEELCHAIR CHARGING STATIONS AND SEVERAL PUBLIC LOCATIONS INCLUDING SEATTLE CITY HALL. THE REMOVAL OF TOLL BOOTH BARRIERS. FINALLY CONTINUING OUR PROVISION OF INPUT TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. OUR GOALS ARE MANY AS THIS REPRESENTS AN ACTIVE AREA OF CONCERN. WE WANT TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR AN ENHANCEMENT OF ACCESSIBLE PARKING AND SIDEWALKS IN THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY TO CALL FOR THE UPDATE OF THE FIND AND FIX IT APP. TO PETITION FOR OPTIONS THAT REDUCE THE FAIR. THE FINAL AREA OF CONCERN I WILL DISCUSS BRIEFLY IS EMPLOYMENT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS. GIVEN THE VALUE EMPLOYMENT. OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL TYPES. >> SHELBY, I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU HAD JOINED. >> YEAH. YEAH. SO, EMPLOYMENT IS ONE OF OUR THIRD COMMITTEES AND SOME OF THE AREAS THAT I HAVE MET WITH IS THE PERSON WHO WORKS WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM. SHE EXPLAINED THIS PROGRAM TO ME AND WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO MEET WITH IS ALSO THE LEADER OF HR WITH THE CITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. AND TAKEN US A FEW YEARS TO GET HERE, BUT WE ARE HOPING TO DO IS EXPAND ON THAT PROGRAM AND HOPEFULLY EXPAND IT TO PEOPLE WITH ALL DISABILITIES. AND ALSO, MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND OR MAYBE HAVE A PERSON. I UNDERSTOOD THAT AT ONE POINT THEY HAD A PERSON ALSO THAT THEY COULD GO TO, TO GET COACHING IN HR TO ASK QUESTIONS LIKE ON THEIR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION AND GET CLARIFICATION ON WHETHER TO PUT IF YOU HAD A DISABILITY OR NOT. AND TO ALSO HAVE MORE EXPANDED JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE CITY JOBS ARE MORE SECURE. THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HELP PEOPLE IN THAT REALM FOR ME. AND ALSO, TO PARTNER WITH EMPLOYERS TO EXPAND EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE LIKE I SAID WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL TYPES. NOT JUST WITH THIS CITY. BUT ALSO WITH THAT. SO ONE OF THE ONES WITH DV R. SO HAVING THEM HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE IN THE CITY. OFTEN TIMES THEY HELP PEOPLE. BUT DON'T HAVE ACTUAL CONNECTIONS. SO IT WOULD BE GREAT THAT THEY KNOW PEOPLE LIKE IN THERE BECAUSE OFTEN, PEOPLE WHO GET JOBS KNOW THEIR RECRUITERS. AND TO THE NETWORKING, EVEN DOING ON COLD EMAILS AND STUFF. AND THE REAL LIFE SEATTLE PROMISE FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE 18, EXPANDING THAT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES REGARDLESS OF INCOME. THAT IS ONE OF MY OTHER GOALS. BUT ALSO REMOVING THE AGEISM PART OF THAT IS ONE OF MY OTHER GOALS. AND I I WANTED TO I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME. EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO COME TO A WHOLE MEETING. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL GET TO SEE YOU AGAIN. BUT TO DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIP. I KNOW WE NEVER REALLY GET TO SEE YOU GUYS. IT IS KIND OF AN ECHO CHAMBER. SO I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU GUYS COULD COME AND ATTEND A MEETING BECAUSE I FEEL THAT FOR ME, SORRY, I'LL WRAP THIS UP QUICKLY. BUT FOR ME, I USED TO BE SOMEONE WHO WAS NORMAL AND THEN SIX YEARS AGO I HAD THIS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND THEN FINDING A JOB AFTER THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE. I WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS GOING TO BE AN ACTUARY BEFORE THAT. AFTER THAT, MY LIFE JUST KIND OF CRASHED. SO I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU GUYS CAME TO THE MEETINGS AND INTERACTED WITH US. YOU KNOW. KIND OF GOT TO KNOW US AND UNDERSTAND AND I REALLY LOVE THAT I'M MEETING WITH YOU GUYS AND I REALLY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEETING WITH US. IT'S VERY AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. JESSICA? >> THANKS SHELBY. SO GLAD WE COULD HEAR YOUR VOICE HERE. BEFORE WE HOP TO QUESTIONS I WANT TO SUMMARIZE A COUPLE OF POINTS AND HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID, SHELBY. WE HOPE TO CREATE A TOOL KIT FOR ENSURING THAT EVENTS ARE ACCESSIBLE WHICH WILL BE SHARED WITH EVENT PLANNERS. TO EXPAND ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT OPTIONS AND TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. AND TO EXPAND PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SEEKING EMPLOYMENT THROUGH ACTIONS SUCH AS RECOGNIZING INSTITUTIONS THAT POSITIVELY SUPPORT THE EMPLOYMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY. IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF SUPPORT THAT SHELBY MENTIONED, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS SPACE TO BE SPEAKING WITH Y'ALL TODAY AND INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AT MEETINGS IF YOU ARE ABLE TO. TO KEEP THESE LINES OF DIALOGUES OPEN. AND WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL. TO CLOSE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNCIL THROUGH THE CREATION OF INITIATIVE THAT'S SUPPORT THE FOCUSES WE HAVE DISCUSSED HERE THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF BILLS THAT POSITIVELY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. AND CONTINUE THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU JESSICA. AND SHELBY FOR BEING HERE. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AND THEN I HAVE TO RUN BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER MEETING. JESSICA, WHEN YOU BROUGHT UP, UPDATING, ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO UPDATE THE FIND IT FIX IT APP. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL? WHAT IS NEEDED? THANK YOU. >> YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION. THAT'S A GREAT ONE. ESSENTIALLY THE FIND IT FIX IT APP IS AN APPLICATION THAT FOLKS CAN USE TO SAVE REPORT ISSUES OF CONCERN. ACCESSIBLE PARKING. OUR HOPES OF UPDATING THAT APP WOULD BE TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE. WE HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A CLEAR FOLLOW THROUGH. OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE RELIABLE. TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR FOLKS ABOUT WHAT THAT PROCESS WOULD ENTAIL. SO OUR GOALS WOULD BE TO MEET WITH THE PEOPLE WHO OPERATE THE APP AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. >> SO IT IS MORE ABOUT HOW DO YOU, ONCE YOU REPORT. I GUESS I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE APP. ONCE YOU REPORT FOLKS ARE NOT GETTING A RESPONSE BACK AS TO WHERE THEIR REPORT WENT IF YOU WILL. THAT TYPE OF, OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY. OF COURSE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. SO NICE TO MEET YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THIS COMMISSION AND I WANT TO TAKE YOU UP ON THE OFFER TO ATTEND AN UPCOMING MEETING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DEVELOP A GOOD CONNECTION. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU NOTE AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NAME THAT ANYONE CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. ACQUIRED DISABILITIES EXIST. AND IT BENEFITS ALL OF US. CERTAINLY WANT TO SUPPORT IN YOUR WORK PLAN. AND WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY ENGAGING YOU ALL. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE BUILDING OUR CITY. PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF INCORPORATING ELEMENTS OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN INTO THIS WORK. WE JUST WANTED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND SAY WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMISSION AND ASK IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AS WE ARE SHAPING UP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. >> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INVITATION. WE ARE ALSO EXCITED TO DEEPEN THIS PARTNERSHIP. IF THERE IS ANY WAY WE CAN CONTRIBUTE AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE INVOLVED. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE DISABILITY COMMISSION HERE FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS AND EXPERTISE. AND DOING SO VERY GRACIOUSLY. THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORK. ALL OF THE WORK BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW. I ASPIRE TO BE THE BEST ADVOCATE IN AMPLIFYING AND UPLIFTING. IT IS ANOTHER THING I LEARNED WERE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE IN THE CITY. TO ADDR YOUR SLIDE THERE ON TRANSPORTATION. TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE MORE ACCESSIBLE. AND INCLUSIVE. AND SO, DURING THE LEVY CONVERSATIONS LAST YEAR, VOTERS ULTIMATELY AS WE ALL KNOW OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THAT LEVY. LAST YEAR I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ENGAGING WITH A LOT OF STAKE HOLDERS INCLUDE MANAGER FROM THE DISABILITY COMMITTEE OR COMMUNITY. MORE BROADLY. IN NON-PROFIT LEADERS. AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. PARENTS WITH DIFFERENTLY ABLED KIDS WORRIED ABOUT ACCESS TO SIDEWALKS, SCHOOLS. SPECIFIC GROUPS INCLUDING DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE STAKE HOLDERRING THAT WE DID LEADING UP TO THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY. WE SHAPED A GREAT PACKAGE. THERE WERE A LOT OF COOL INVESTMENTS FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. INCLUDING SIDEWALKS. THE SINGULAR BIGGEST INVESTMENTS IN NEW SIDEWALKS EVER IN THE CITY'S HISTORY. EVER. THE THEE COUNCIL MEMBERS COINCIDENTALLY WITH, WE HAVE 27% MISSING SIDEWALKS IN THE WHOLE CITY AS WE ALL KNOW. AND THE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE THE WORST OFF WHOSE DISTRICTS ARE THE WORST OFF ARE HERE AT THIS DAIS TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE UP NORTH. MYSELF IN THE SOUTHWEST. WEST SIDE. AND THEN, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON EAST OF I-5. WE ADDED A TON OF NEW SIDEWALKS. ALL IT IS TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING ALL OF THIS. I WOULD LOVE TO PERSONALLY MEET WITH YOU ALL. AND LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT MORE WE CAN DO IN THIS POTENTIAL SPACE. MY OFFICE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL. AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED I JUST DON'T WANT TO IMPOSE MORE WORK ON YOU. THAT'S MY STRUGGLE. BUT ALSO THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION ON THAT AREA. I WANT TO SIT DOWN AND MEET. IF YOU ARE FLEXIBLE ON TIMING. IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU DISABILITY COMMISSION. LET'S CONNECT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER, WE WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT. >> I WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO CONNECT, ESPECIALLY ON FOSTER YOUTH. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD A QUESTION ON. I KNOW THAT I'M ALLERGIC TO THE PERTUSSIS VACCINE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS STILL TRUE. BUT I HAD A QUESTION, CAN YOU FOSTER KIDS IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO VACCINES? IS THAT STILL TRUE? I WAS WONDERING IF THAT HAD BEEN UPDATED OR NOT BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO FOSTER KIDS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER BUT I THINK YOU CAN. BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THAT HAD CHANGED OR NOT. BUT I REALLY DO LOVE KIDS. THEY ARE A PASSION OF MINE. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND YOU KNOW, WE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPLORE MORE DURING OUR OFFLINE HUDDLE. AND ESPECIALLY TRANSPORTATION. SO LET'S GET IT. >> THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE FIND IT FIX IT APP. SO THAT HAS BEEN ASKED. SO, AND ALSO, REALLY, SOMETHING I DON'T SIT ON THIS COMMITTEE. BUT IT IS A CONCERN OF MINE. WHICH IS BEING ABLE TO ACCESS EMPLOYMENT AT THE CITY. THERE DO SEEM TO BE A LOT OF BARRIERS. THIS IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS TO GET THROUGH THE INITIAL SCREENING AND HIRING. SO, ALL THAT TO SAY I'M VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT. AND TRYING TO MAKE ACCESS MORE READILY AVAILABLE. SO INTERESTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU JESSICA AND SHELBY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND THINK. OH, SORRY. >> I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. >> THANK YOU CHAIR. SORRY. I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TODAY BECAUSE I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE OUR COMMISSIONERS AGAIN. AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THESE CUTS TO FEDERAL FUNDING AND IT JUST DAWNED ON ME THINKING ABOUT OUR CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT MANY WITH DISABILITIES DEPEND ON. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THREATS. IS THERE ANYTHING ON YOUR RADAR IN TERMS OF CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE SERVING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT COULD BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK? >> YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT THOUGHTFUL QUESTION. SHELBY, I CERTAINLY INVITE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS AS WELL. I THINK YOU NAMED A COUPLE ON OUR MIND. SSI, SSDI. WATCHING WHAT WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT MEDICAID AND MEDICARE AS WELL. THINGS THAT IMPACT THIS COMMUNITY. CERTAINLY THINGS WE ARE KEEPING TABS ON. >> WE WOULD LOVE TO JUST STAY IN CONTACT ABOUT THOSE IMPACTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AS THINGS COME UP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ALL OF YOUR PRESENTATIONS. AND THIS WAS AN ACTIVE SESSION WHICH SHOWS THAT WE ARE ALL TRULY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE BETTER. BE PARTNERS AND BE BETTER PARTNERS. SO, I THINK WE ARE ALL INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY AS COMMISSIONS AND ALSO TRYING TO GET TO THE COMMISSION MEETINGS IN THE EVENING. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AND FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. IT WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR BEING WILLING TO STAY. WE DID RUN OVER A LITTLE BIT. BUT IT WAS WORTHWHILE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR ALL THIS INFORMATION AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STAY A LITTLE BIT LATE. SO, THAT SAID, THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE FEBRUARY 12th MEETING OF THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FEBRUARY 26, THE TIME IS 11:22 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.