>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. NOVEMBER 21st, 2024 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 01, 2:02. I AM SARA NELSON, . PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE PRESENT. >> THANK YOU , VERY MUCH. THERE'S NOT A PRESENTATION TODAY. ALEX WE WILL MOVE INTO THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THOSE WHO REGISTERED FOR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR A NEW EMAIL WITH TODAY'S DETAILS. HOW MANY ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY? >> 10 IN PERSON AND FOUR REMOTES. >> LET'S GO WITH ALL OF THE 10 IN PERSON SPEAKERS OUT ONE MINUTE EACH AND WE WILL MOVE INTO THE REMOTE. HOPEFULLY WILL PEOPLE -- PEOPLE WILL HAVE GOTTEN THEIR EMAIL. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OTHER TIME. SPEAKERS MIKE WILL BE MUTED THEIR COMMENTS IN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. >> WAITING FOR THE TIME OR REALLY QUICK. >> YES. >> CORRECTING, 14 ALTOGETHER. >> I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THAT AND SAY TWO MINUTES EACH, PLEASE. >> TWO MINUTES, OKAY, THANK YOU. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS TIM. FOLLOWED BY TIM IS ALEX. >> WELL, HELLO. I WAS JUST TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CAPITOL GAINS TAX THERE IS A NEW STATE LAW , INITIATIVE 2111 THAT 70% OF THE HOUSE MEMBERS VOTED FOR. 76% OF THE STATE SENATORS VOTED FOR THAT TOOK EFFECT ON JUNE 6. IT SAID NEITHER THE STATE NOR ANY COUNTY, CITY, OR OTHER LOCAL JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON MAY TAX ANY INDIVIDUAL PERSON ON ANY FORM OF PERSONAL INCOME. YOU NOTICED IT SAID CITY. FOUR OF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE BECAUSE YOU ARE PUSHING A BILL THAT IS ILLEGAL BECAUSE OF THIS NEW LAW. RCW 1.9 0.100. I'M SURE YOU HAVE LEGAL STAFF TO LOOK THAT ONE UP. IT IS FRUSTRATING, I THINK, FOR VOTERS WHEN THEY SEE A LAW IN THE BOOKS AND SEE ELECTED PEOPLE IGNORING THAT LAW EXPLICITLY. IT IS ILLEGAL WHAT YOU ARE DOING . YOU MAY WANT IT. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I WANT $30 TABS, I'M NOT GETTING THEM. WE WANT THINGS BUT SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WORK OUT. THERE IS A STATE LAW NOW IN EFFECT THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT HAVE THIS TAX. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE COURT TO SAY IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL. THAT'S ONE THING. WHAT DO YOU WANT IT OR NOT? THE LEGISLATURE SAID WE DON'T WANT IT. IT TOOK EFFECT ON JUNE 6. IT IS NOW ILLEGAL TO DO THIS THING . 28 SECONDS. I WILL TAKE A COUPLE SECONDS MORE. THIS DOES RUN COMPLETELY COUNTER TO THE STATE LAW. I WOULD ASK YOU TO RESPECT STATE LAW, NOT TRY AND PUSH STATE LAWS, ORDINANCES THAT CLEARLY VIOLATE THAT STATE LAW AND CONSIDERATION OF THIS VIEWPOINT. THANK YOU. >> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN. FROM PUERTO RICO GARBAGE. I AM PRESIDENT OF -- I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING , TALKING ABOUT $1 BILLION. $8 BILLION. LISTEN TO ME . FROM GARBAGE. $8 BILLION . BEFORE HIM BEFORE. WHY? [ INDISCERNIBLE ] APPROXIMATELY 10 YEAR . CITY HALL ONE DAY A WEEK FOR THREE MINUTES SO PEOPLE CAN GO AND SPEAK WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL. YOU DON'T DO THIS, WHY? BECAUSE -- YOU UNDERSTAND. YOU WANT TO CONTROL EVERYTHING. YOU CANNOT IMAGINE SO PEOPLE CAN GO AND TALK THREE MINUTES WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL . WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I GUARANTEE YOU, NEXT, WATCH IT, WE WILL BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT. BUT YOU DON'T WANT THIS. WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE FASCIST, AND YOU KEEP THIS RIGHT NOW. DEMOCRAT . COCKROACHES. WHAT IS YOU ARE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE'S THE PROBLEM. ONE DAY PER WEEK IN CITY HALL FOR THREE MINUTES SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND TALK WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL. CAN YOU OPEN THIS . YOU KNOW WHAT THISNOW TRUMP COME 100 MILLION AMERICANS SUPPORT . WE NEED CHANGE, WE NEED REVOLUTION. VIVA DONALD TRUMP, VIVA USA. VIVA 100 MILLION AMERICAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NOEL EVANGELISTA. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS NOEL EVANGELISTA. I LIVE IN BEACON HILL, DISTRICT TWO, AND I AM A MEMBER OF SEATTLE. I GO TO THE CHURCH AT BEACON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WERE MANY OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS HAVE HELPED TO MAKE -- POSSIBLE. ALONG WITH MANY OTHER FILIPINO SEATTLE ROOTED ORGANIZATIONS NO MORE COP SURVEILLING THE PARKS DOES NOT MEAN THE HOUSE ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED. IT JUST MEANS THE PROBLEM GET SWEPT TO ANOTHER AREA OF SEATTLE . CITY COUNCIL , IN DISCUSSING TODAY'S BUDGET, WE ASK THAT YOU PRAY TO -- PRIORITIZE SOCIAL SERVICES , AND KEEPING PLACES LIKE THE PARK AND INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT SAFE. THE SOLUTION IS NOT MORE COPS OR MORE FUNDS FOR WEAPONS. THE SOLUTION IS TO RESTORE WHAT HAS BEEN STOLEN AND BUILD UP PEOPLE TO THRIVE , NOT SWEEP UNDER THE RUG. THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS . FOLLOWED BY WILL BE ANDY. >> GOOD EVENING, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS -- I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF MOVEMENT SEATTLE. A GRASSROOT FILIPINO ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO UPHOLDING CIVIL RIGHTS . WE ARE CALLING FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE PARK AND THE DEFENDING OF OUR LOCAL FILIPINO HISTORY FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS HELPED BUILD UP THE CITY TO WHAT IT IS TODAY . AS NOEL SAID WE AGREED THAT THE FUNDING FOR HELPING THE PARK SHOULD GO TOWARD SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE AND NOT FOR MORE POLICING OR SURVEILLANCE. IN FACT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL TAX , 62% OF WHICH SHOULD BE DEDICATED TOWARD THINGS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR HOUSE LIST NEIGHBORS. 330 MILLION OF THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN TOWARDS FUNDING AND POLICE SURVEILLANCE WHICH STUDIES DOING SHOW DO NOT HELP OUR COMMUNITIES. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE STAY ON YOUR PROMISE OF SERVICING THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, PROVIDING HOUSING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, EDUCATIONS, JOBS, HEALTHCARE. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE'S HISTORY. PLEASE SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE OVER 100,000 FILIPINOS IN YOUR CITY BY DEFENDING FILIPINO HISTORY, RESTORING THE PARK, JOSE RIZAL PARK, AND PROVIDING THE SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT POLICING. THANK YOU. >> ANDY FOLLOWED BY ANDY WILL BE -- >> PLEASE, BEFORE YOU START. FOR THE FOLKS GATHERED HERE AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS, PLEASE USE JAZZ HAND INSTEAD OF CLAPPING. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSELORS, MY NAME IS ANDY. WITHIN THE GROUP I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR LITTLE SAIGON NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT TWO, STAFF MEMBER. UPLIFT THE NEEDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS. A LOT OF ORGANIZATION, WITH STAFF . COMMUNICATE ADVOCATES AROUND THE CITY. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO -- OR COMMUNITY SPACE, ENSURING EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. OUR GROUP IS ASKING THE CITY TO PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE MOST LEARNABLE, INCLUDING LOW INCOME, LIKE, -- EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY HAS UNIQUE NEEDS. LIKE THE INVESTMENTS SIMILAR TO THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM . VITAL TO ADDRESSING HISTORICAL UNDERINVESTMENT IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WHERE THE THESE ARE THE GREATEST. PROGRAMS ENSURE THERE IS MULTILINGUAL ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION, GUARANTEEING -- ALL SAFETY ISSUES, GUARANTEEING COMMUNITY DECISION-MAKING. TO FACILITATE INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE. TO ENSURE THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS WILL WORK FOR ORAL OR PRIORITIZING THESE ARE ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S INITIATIVES WHILE FOSTERING HEALING AND BELONGING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. LAST NIGHT I WAS MEETING WITH RESIDENTS IN TENT CITY THREE. LEADERS FROM CHER WHEEL. TENT CITY THREE ENCAMPMENT IS CURRENTLY IN THE PARKING LOT AT UNIVERSITY CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WERE SERVE AS ONE OF THE PASTORS. WE HEARD ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT FOLKS ARE FACING. AS MEMBERS OF THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM AND THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT , BRING UNHOUSED PEOPLE TO THEIR ENCAMPMENT . BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT COMMUNITY CARES FOR ONE ANOTHER. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE ISSUES ARE ALSO CLOSEST TO THE SOLUTIONS. THEY TRUST THAT ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE 1033, WILL PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE. WE ARE FACING A BOMB CYCLONE OF DISINVESTMENT FROM THOSE WHO ARE MOST PROBABLE. THE WINDS OF POVERTY AND DESPAIR ARE BLOWING THROUGH OUR CITY. JUMPSTART FUNDING IS ONE OF THE RESPONSES TO LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY , AND INVEST IN THE PLACES THAT ARE BEST SUITED TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED. CREATING PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCES , LIKE, THE CAPITOL GAINS TAX WILL HELP BOLSTER A MORE ROBUST RESPONSE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO SEE OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE HURT. YOU HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN FROM FOLKS WHO ARE PLEADING FOR JUMPSTART FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. MAY IT BE SO. >> WE NOW HAVE MARGO STEWART, FOLLOWED BY JOY LOPEZ. >> HI, MY NAME IS MARGO, I'M HERE FOR MEMBERS OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. OPPOSE THE SHAMEFUL ATTACK THIS MAYOR AND DEMOCRAT -- ALONGSIDE -- IT'S A SPIT IN THE FACE TO THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WORKING PEOPLE IN THE STREET TO HELP WHEN THIS TAX ON THIS BUSINESS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT, AND THE TIME NOW WHEN THERE'S MORE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT MONEY TO THE ALREADY LOADED POLICE BUDGET. THIS COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR ANY WAY THEY CAN TO MAKE WORKING PEOPLE , RATHER THAN BIG BUSINESS, PAY FOR THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS. WHAT BIG BUSINESSES ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE. COMPANIES, LIKE, AMAZON, WHO MADE 15.3 BILLIONS DOLLARS. THAT'S UP 55% FROM THE PROFITS LAST YEAR. CORPORATE EFFORTS ACROSS THE BOARD ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE COVID. 19.5% FROM 13%. GUESS WHO HAS NOT BEEN THRIVING SINCE COVID. THESE BIG BUSINESSES CAN AFFORD TO PAY MORE. THIS ALL DEMOCRAT COUNCIL GOES AFTER WORKING PEOPLE LIKE MY CLOSE FRIEND AND ROOMMATE WHO CAN A COUPLE DOLLARS IN HIS ACCOUNT AFTER HEALTHCARE'S EXPENSES. FOOD SERVICE WORKERS WHOSE MINIMUM WAGE WHEN AFTER SHAMEFULLY AND SOUGHT TO LOWER JUST WEEKS AGO. IT WAS US, AS A MOVEMENT OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK THAT SOUGHT BETTER ATTACK. IF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING THEY SHOULD JOIN WITH WORKERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING ACROSS THE BOARD TO FIGHT FOR AN INCREASE IN AMAZON TAX. THE SAME IS TRUE NOW. IT'S ABSOLUTE INSANITY TO BE TURNING FUNDS AWAY FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE POLICE BUDGET WHEN WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO TAX THE BIGGEST BUSINESS IN THE CITY WHO ARE THRIVING TO FUND THE SOCIAL SERVICES WE SO DIFFERENT THE MEAT. THESE DEMOCRATS WON'T DO THAT. ENTIRELY UNWILLING. WHEN PUSH COMES TO SOME OF ITS THOSE BUSINESSES THEY REPRESENT. I URGE ANYBODY WHO IS LISTENING TO JOIN WORKERS STRIKE BACK AND COME OUT IN FEBRUARY TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN FURTHER FIGHT ATTACKS LIKE THESE. >> NEXT WE HAVE JOY LOPEZ. FOLLOWING JOY WILL BE -- >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOEY LOPEZ. SO DIRECTOR OF THE -- I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3. I WORK IN DISTRICT TWO, AND I WORSHIP IN DISTRICT SEVEN. FOR THE PAST SIX WEEKS, FAITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS SEATTLE HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN THESE CHAMBERS DECLARING BUDGETS ARE A MORAL DOCUMENT. BUDGETS SPEAK TO THE VALUES OF OUR CITY THROUGH PUBLIC INVESTMENT. WE ARE SAD TO SEE A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT FAILS TO SPEAK TO THOSE VALUES. WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS NOT INSURED THE ORIGINAL JUMPSTART PLAN . IT'S OBVIOUS THE CITY HAS A REVENUE PROBLEM, NOT A SPENDING PROBLEM. RELYING THIS HEAVILY ON JUMPSTART IS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. WE HOPED THE COUNCIL WOULD NOT KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. WE BELIEVE THE CITY NEEDS MORE PROGRESSIVE TAX REVENUE SOURCES IN ADJUSTING TO JUMPSTART. LIKE THE PROPOSED CAPITOL GAINS TAX. IT'S BE ON TIME FOR POLY SOLUTIONS. THAT INVEST COMMUNITIES. ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACISM. WHEN HE COUNSELED TO CONTINUE TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE STREAMS AND FILL THE CURRENT GAPS, LIKE THE CAPITOL GAINS TAX. FAITH COMMUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO COMMUNITY, NOT THE WEALTHY FEW. THANK YOU. >> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CARLY. >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHAMEFULLY WENT TO DIVERT FUNDING TO MAKE UP FOR THEIR BUDGET AND TO FUND THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. NO WONDER WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE HAVE NO FAITH IN THE DEMOCRATS TO DELIVER ON WORKING-CLASS DEMANDS. THE ONLY VICTORY WORKERS HAVE WON COME FROM REPRESENTATIVES INDEPENDENT OF CORPORATE FUNDING, SUCH AS SOCIALIST AND FORMER MEMBER WHO WON THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE AND AMAZON TAX. THE SAME DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL MEMBERS , ON THE OTHER HAND, TRY TO ATTACK THE 15 VICTORY JUST TWO MONTHS AGO AND ARE ATTACKING THE AMAZON TAX TODAY. THAT'S WHY I AM A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK TO BREAK FROM THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. ONE OF THE CORE DEMANDS AS WE WORKERS NEED A PARTY FOR THE WORKING CLASS. ONE THAT REPRESENTS US. ONE THAT FIGHTS FOR WORKING-CLASS DEMANDS SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FREE HEALTHCARE. >> AFTER CARLY WILL BE SUMMER AND THEN ALEX. >> HI, MY NAME IS CARLA. I'M A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK AND A RENTER IN DISTRICT THREE. THE JUMPSTART TAX IS NOW THE SINGLE BIGGEST SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY. GENERATING OVER $400 MILLION IN 2024. THE AMAZON TAX HAS ACTUALLY SHOWN SHOWN SUCCESS IN THE LAST YEARS. THESE FUNDS ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION FOR OVER 3000 NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN SEATTLE IN 2022 AND 2023. OR THAN DOUBLING THE RATE OF CONSTRUCTION DURING THE PRIOR TWO YEARS. AS THE COST OF LIVING SKYROCKETS IN THE CITY, WORKING PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO MOVE OR LEAVE SEATTLE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOUSING. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO REALLOCATE THESE FUNDS IN YOUR BUDGET. THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK AMAZON AND OTHER BIG COMPANIES FOR MORE MONEY. THIS YEAR AMAZON REPORTED A 55% INCREASE IN NET INCOME, CLOSING OUT THEIR THIRD QUARTER BOOKS WITH $15.3 BILLION. CITY COUNCIL, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THE WORKING AND LOWER INCOME PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THE ONES THAT DESPERATELY , DESPERATELY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND NEED THAT WILL ONLY INCREASE IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS AS WE ENTER INTO A PRESIDENCY THAT WILL GREATLY AFFECT WORKING PEOPLE. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS SUMMER, I AM A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE THAT. THE COST OF HOUSING IN SEATTLE IS ALREADY OUT OF CONTROL FOR WORKING PEOPLE. THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE'S ONLY INCREASING AS RENTS AND CONTINUAL LIVING CONTINUE TO RISE. INCREASING THE M OF SON -- AMAZON TAX. POOR AND WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE ARE BECOMING INFECTED AND BECOMING HOMELESS. IF YOU FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS ATTACK MORE PEOPLE WILL BE THROWN OUT OF HOUSING BECAUSE OF YOU. IT'S NOT JUST THESE INDIVIDUALS ON CITY COUNCIL, IT'S THE PARTY THEY ARE PART OF. DEMOCRATS ON CITY COUNCIL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL AGAINST OUR VICTORIES. AFTER OUR MOVEMENT WINS THOSE MOVEMENTS BY BUILDING MOVEMENTS THEY CLAIM CREDIT AND GIVE VICTORY STUPID NAMES LIKE THE JUMPSTART TAX. THEN THEY FIGHT TO CALL THEM BACK. FORCED TO BACK OFF ON THE ATTACK ON 15 BECAUSE WORKERS STRIKE BACK, WORKING PEOPLE AND UNION MEMBERS FOUGHT AGAINST IT. WE WILL BE FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE DEMOCRATS DON'T USE THE REST OF YOUR TO RAM THROUGH SOMETHING WHEN THEY THINK WORKING PEOPLE ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. WE NEED TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW. FOR ANYONE WHO AGREES, SIGN UP TO BECOME A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. COME TO OUR ORGANIZING CONFERENCE ON FEBRUARY 22nd TO GET ORGANIZED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST BOTH OF THESE BILLIONAIRE PARTIES. REGISTRATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE. >> ALEX IS OUR LAST IN PERSON REGISTERED SPEAKERS. >> MY NAME IS ALEX OLSEN. I'M A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE THAT. I WAS HERE ON TUESDAY AND NOW I'M HERE AGAIN. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, JUMPSTART WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO SEATTLE AND OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMS IN RECENT MEMORY. WITH THIS BUDGET YOU WANT TO PASTORIZA. GIVE MORE MONEY TO COPS AND LOST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE ARE IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. THROWING OUR MOST DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORS UNDER THE BUS, AGAIN, THAT'S NEVER WORKED. LET'S CALL YOUR APPROACH WHAT IT IS. AUSTERITY. TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AUSTERITY. REFUSING TO ENACT A TOP -- CAPITOL GAINS ACT IS AUSTERITY. AMAZON AND BIG CORPORATIONS HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. THUS, THE WORKING-CLASS OF SEATTLE WHO ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW. AMAZON'S INCOME IS UP 55%, AS MENTIONED. INCREASE THEIR TAXES INSTEAD. THE JUMPSTART TAX IS NOT SOME FIXED AMOUNT YOU CAN NEVER CHANGE. FILLING THE GENERAL FUND DEFICIT DOES NOT HAVE TO COME AT THE COST OF OUR MUCH-NEEDED SOCIAL PROGRAMS. YOU CANNOT ATTACK WORKING PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AND ACT SURPRISED WHEN THE VOTERS DON'T HAVE YOUR BACK. YOU DIDN'T HAVE OURS. YOU WOULD THINK AFTER COUNCILMEMBER L.E.A.D. CRUSHING DEFEAT YOU WILL LEARN HOW UNPOPULAR WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS. AUSTERITY DOESN'T WORK AND AUSTERITY HAS NEVER WORKED. WHAT WE NEED ARE NEW SOURCES OF PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND TO INCREASE THE ONES WE HAVE, NOT MORE OF THIS CONSERVATIVE FISCAL COWARDICE. YOU WOULD RATHER RUN THE CITY INTO THE GROUND JUST TO LINE YOUR DONORS POCKETS. THE VOTERS WILL REMEMBER. THANK YOU. >> WE WILL MOVE ON TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. A REMINDER TO REMOTE SPEAKERS, PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE MESSAGE YOU HAVE BEEN UN-MUTED. OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS HOWARD. HOWARD WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ALBERTA -- ALBERTA. GO AHEAD, HOWARD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. HOWARD, DISTRICT 7. YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED CLEARLY TO US THAT OVERWHELMING PUBLIC APPEARING -- OPINION IS IRRELEVANT TO YOU AS YOU VOTE FOR MORE PUNITIVE MEMBERS -- THROUGH CONSEQUENCES OF SOCIAL INEQUITY WHILE GETTING T■HE PROGRAMS TO PROTECT FOLKS YOU SUBJECT TO PUNISH. YOU PUNISH FOLKS FOR THE CONSEQUENCES AND ACT TO ENSURE EQUITY IS PERPETUATED , EXPANDED AS WITH SEVERE CUTBACKS AND PROTECTIONS FOR THIS BUDGET. WE SENIOR DESTROY THE JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT BOARD, REMOVE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HOMELESSNESS FROM THE HOMELESSNESS BOARDS. UNDERMINE AND KILL THE RENTERS ADVOCACY WORK GROUP AND UNDERMINE AND KILL THE ONLY PROGRAM TO GIVE VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE A VOICE. YOU'VE HEARD THE SAYING, NOTHING WITHOUT US WITHOUT US. YOU HAVE INSTEAD EMBRACED EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU WITHOUT YOU. YOU DO THIS UNDER THE GUISE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE SURE OUR DOLLARS ARE SPENT WISELY. YET WHERE'S THE AUDIT OF THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS SPENT OR OVER 70 MILLION SPENT ON THE FAILED POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT BEEN AUDITED IN OVER SEVEN YEARS OF EXISTENCE, DESPITE THE CITY AUDITOR CALLING FOR 17 YEARS AGO. CONTINUE TO FAILED -- FAILED TO FUND SOCIAL NEEDS PROGRAMS TO OFFER REAL SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF POTIONS -- PUNISHMENT. CONSTITUENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES AS WE JUST SAW THIS MONTH WITH THE RESOUNDING REJECTION OF THE CURRENT POLICIES THIS COUNCIL IS ON. >> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALBERTA. FOLLOWING ALBERTO WILL BE BRENDAN. GO AHEAD, ALBERTO . >> COUNCIL MEMBERS , WORK TOGETHER, REACH OUT AND PARTNER ON A PLAN THAT WILL BUILD HOUSING , PROTECT WORKERS, AND BRING REVENUE NEEDED TO BUILD A CITY FOR ALL. MR. SAKA, YOUR CRUSADE AGAINST THE SAFETY DIVIDER CAN END HERE TODAY. MR. SAKA, VOTE YES ON MR. MOORE AMENDMENT AND I WILL PERSONALLY REMOVE THAT CURVE FROM THE STREET. LOCAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY CAN DONATE THE TOOLS NEEDED. MR. SAKA, BUT YES, AND I WILL GET THIS DONE. YOU KNOW I'M A DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL. MR. SAKA, VOTE YES ON MAKING THE WEALTHY PAY FAIR SHARE . TAKE THE $2 MILLION EARMARKED FOR YOUR CRUSADE , AND SEND IT TO LOCAL FOOD BANKS. TAX THE RICH, GET THIS PAST . MR. SAKA, TEAR DOWN THIS CURB. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRENDAN. FOLLOWING BRENDAN WILL BE -- GO AHEAD, BRENDAN. >> GOOD AFTERNMY NAME IS BRENDAN. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1. I HAVE LONG BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE EFFORT YOU PUT IN FOR EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY. THESE EFFORTS HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. I'VE CALLED IN THIS AFTERNOON PRIMARILY TO DISCUSS TRAFFIC SAFETY. I LIVE ON DELL RIDGEWAY SOUTHWEST AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 YEARS. I LIVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF THE -- I SUPPORT THE SAFETY PROJECT AND GREATLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP ON THIS MATTER. THE CURRENT SET UP ENCOURAGES DRIVERS TO MAKE U-TURNS ACROSS THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE WHICH IS NOT SAFE. AS A FATHER OF THREE I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH CHILDREN SAFETY, AND IT TROUBLES ME THESE MANEUVERS FREQUENTLY OCCUR WITH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. APARTMENT -- PERSONALLY WITNESSED SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS, ONE WHICH ENDANGERED A BICYCLIST. ASKED -- TO APPROPRIATE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO EXPLORE AND CONSTRUCT A SAFER WAY FOR DRIVERS TO ENTER AND EXIT . ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, HAVING KIDS IN WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE AND BASEBALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SIP PART FAIRMONT PARK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER. FOLLOWING WILL BE -- GO AHEAD. I SEE YOU ARE UN-MUTED. ARE YOU THERE? >> SORRY, APOLOGIES ABOUT THAT. I . CURRENT D3 RESIDENT. FORMER RESIDENTS OF OTHER DISTRICTS IN SEATTLE. I CONSIDER MEN AS MANY OF YOU MY REPRESENTED. I'M COMMENTING ON CB 12908. QUICKLY TO THE COMMENTS OF LEGALITY. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXCISE TAX ON INCOME TAX. THEREFORE IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO WASHINGTON STATE LAW. JUST WANTED TO SAY WE LIVE IN A TIME OF INEQUITY. WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE WE ARE CLOSING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT UNPRECEDENTED RATES. WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE CITY COUNCIL IS ATTEMPTING TO RATE TAX FUNDS, SUCH AS THE JUMPSTART TAX TO BALANCE CITY BUDGETS WHERE THOSE FUNDS WERE PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER NECESSARY PUBLIC SERVICES. TAXES ARE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR REDISTRIBUTING WEALTH WITHIN THE CITY. IT'S CRITICAL WE DISREGARD THE TAXATION TO HELP THOSE THAT NEEDED THE MOST AND CLOSE THE INEQUALITY WITHIN OUR CITY. THE PROPOSED TAX , SUBJECT TO EARNINGS OVER $250,000 IS FOUR TIMES THE MEDIAN INCOME. BEGGING COUNCIL THAT WE BEGIN HELPING THE PEOPLE , NOT THE PEOPLE FUNDING THE CAMPAIGNS. NOT THE PEOPLE GAINING FOUR TIMES MEDIAN INCOME SALES OF STOCKS AND OTHER CAPITOL ASSETS. PLEASE PASS CB 120908. ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT STREET CLEANING WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I TRULY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE AND PAY FOR STREET CLEANING MACHINES AND STREET CLEANERS WHEN WE HAVE NO PARKING ALTERNATIVE DAYS . ULTIMATELY MAKES THEM WILDLY INEFFECTIVE . SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER IS BJ. GO AHEAD , BJ. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS BJ. I AM A D6 RESIDENT. I SUPPORT THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET. THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN INSULTING TO THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. FOR EXAMPLE, MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT NEEDING TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF WHY SO MANY PEOPLE NEED RENTAL AND FOOD ASSISTANCE. RENT IS TOO HIGH AND WAGES ARE TOO LOW. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE NEED ASSISTANCE. THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO EXASPERATE A. THE POSITIONS COUNCIL IS MADE. ACTIVE DECISIONS TO GO AND DEFUND SO WORKERS HAVE LESS PROTECTION TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING PAID AND HAVING IT STOLEN FROM BY THEIR EMPLOYERS. THIS BUDGET THE FUNDS TENANT SERVICES. TENANTS HAVE LESS PROTECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THEIR LANDLORD ISN'T STEALING FROM THEM. THESE ARE DECISIONS THIS COUNCIL HAS ACTIVELY GONE AND MADE THAT ARE GOING TO EXACERBATE INEQUALITY ON ISSUES IN SEATTLE. SAYING PEOPLE IN SEATTLE DON'T TRUST THEIR CITY TO SPEND ITS MONEY. HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH JUMPSTART? ARE YOU SURPRISED WHY PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU? DON'T BE SURPRISED IF PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU'RE SPENDING DECISION WHEN YOU ALWAYS THROUGHOUT A SPENDING PLAN. WHEN YOUR DECISION IS, HEY, ANYTHING THAT FINDS US AND STOPS US FROM PAYING MONEY ON COPS WE CAN JUST CHANGE THE LAW EVERY SINGLE YEAR SO WE CAN JUST THROW THAT OUT. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU. WHAT YOU ARE SPENDING MONEY ON IS THE COPS. THE SURVEY IS TELLING YOU THIS IS NOT WHAT PEOPLE WANT YOU TO BE DOING. ALSO SAW THIS WITH COUNCIL DECIDING TO THROW OUT PRECIP OR TORY BUDGETING. THIS WAS A PROCESS THAT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GIVING THE PEOPLE DIRECT CONTROL SAYING HOW MONEY WAS SPENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. COUNCIL DIDN'T LIKE HOW SOME OF THOSE . HEY, YOU DON'T GET IT DECISION IF IT IS AND WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTED. IF THE COUNCIL CAN VETO THAT IS NOT THE DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE. >> THAT IS THE LAST REMOTE REGISTER SPEAKER, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO -- HOLD ON A SECOND HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS , IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL A CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. SEEING NONE, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDE COUNCIL BILL 120900. 120901 AND COUNCIL BILL 120913 , WHICH IS THE PAYMENT OF THE BILLS. AND WILL ALSO HAVE 37 PIECES OF LEGISLATION FROM THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT ARE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET, WHICH WE HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE IN PREVIOUS SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEES. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THE COUNCILMEMBERS WISH TO REMAIN -- REMOVED FROM TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE I MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ALL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COMMITTEE REPORTS. BEFORE WE CAN DISCUSS THE NEXT EIGHT RELATED BUDGET ITEMS -- GO AHEAD. PART OF ME? OH, YES. I AM SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTE THEM LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY. ITEM H, COMMUNITY REPORTS. BEFORE WE BEGIN DISCUSSING THE NEXT EIGHT ITEMS THE COUNCIL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR OVERALL COMMENTS ON THE ADOPTED 2025 BUDGET. BEFORE OUR VOTE ON ITEM THREE. IF YOU PREFER TO -- IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS OR A SPEECH ON THAT ITEM, IT IS BEST TO WAIT UNTIL THAT ITEM IS BEFORE US. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE OVERALL BUDGET , ITEM THREE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU TO MAKE YOUR THOUGHTS KNOWN. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, ITEM ONE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE AGENDA. >> COUNCIL BILL -- WHICH ADOPTED THE 2024 BUDGET, CHANGING APPROPRIATIONS TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND BUDGET CONTROL LEVELS. COMMUNITY RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE REPORTS. >> THANK YOU, I THINK MY SCRIPT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE BILL GOING BEFORE US HERE? >> COUNCIL BILL 1208 93. >> 893. GREAT. PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IMPLEMENTATION BILL. COLLEAGUES, IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE. THE PROCESS WAS UPHELD AN IMPORTANT ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE HERE ARE COUNCIL. I'M HAPPY TO SEE WE ARE ABLE TO GET THIS MONEY OUT THE DOOR FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES. WHAT I SAID PREVIOUSLY IS THIS CANNOT BE A ONE TIME ACTION. THIS CANNOT BE A ONE TIME MOMENT . WE HAD TO CONTINUE FUNDING BLACK AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES EVERY YEAR MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. I URGE A YES VOTE. >> I WILL INVITE OTHER COMMENT ON THIS BILL. I WOULD LIKE TO PRIVILEGE THE COMMENTS OF COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH, WHO MADE SOME OF THESE CHANGES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK , NOW WOULD BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU. CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD HERE. I DID NOT THIS -- NOW THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE ON THE AGENDA. THAT'S FINE. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR THIS PROCESS. I KNOW WE ME AFTE COMM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE USE SELECTIVE BLACKNESS TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THEIR AGENDA . I AM HERE TO SAY OUR BLACK COMMUNITY IS ALIVE AND WELL IN OUR CITY. THEIR VOICE WANTS TO BE HEARD. THEIR VOICE WAS HEARD ON THIS BUDGET. INVESTMENTS WE ARE MAKING IN THE ARTS , HOMEOWNERSHIP YOUTH HOMELESSNESS , FOOD INSECURITY ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE TALKED WITH NEIGHBORS, I'VE GONE TO CHURCHES. I HAVE WALKED NEIGHBORHOODS. DIFFERENT EVENTS. I HAVE CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THEY ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY FOR ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY. A LOT OF TIMES THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING OUT HERE IN THE STREETS THAT ARE BEING MURDERED, BEING KILLED, WE OFTEN CALL IT GUN VIOLENCE, BUT IT IS OUR BABIES KILLING BABIES. IF THEY KNEW THE HISTORY THEY WOULD KNOW THEIR GREATNESS. THE ARTS IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THEM TO SEE THEIR GREATNESS, THEIR HISTORY, AND BE ABLE TO BUILD CONNECTIONS AND HAVE LOVING RELATIONSHIPS, AND ALSO A BIG PIECE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS INVESTMENT, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THE GENERATIONAL PIECE . A LOT OF THE EVENTS WE ARE BRINGING FORTH OUR MULTIGENERATIONAL. YOU HAVE THE GRANDMAS, THE ANTS, THE KIDS , THE MOMS, THE DADS, IT'S VERY GENERATIONAL. THAT'S THE ONE THING BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER. COLLEAGUES, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAVE SUPPORTED THIS FROM DAY ONE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HAVE SIGNED ON TO THIS FROM KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW, URBAN LEAGUE, BIRD BAR, TO THE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT BLACK BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS SINCE DAY ONE TO THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY LEADERS, ALL THE CHURCHES. THEY ALL LEND THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND THIS, AND COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT IN THE ORIGINAL PROMISE MADE TO BLACK COMMUNITY. THE ORIGINAL PROMISE MADE TO OUR BLACK FOLKS AFTER GEORGE FLOYD. THE ORIGINAL PROMISE THAT WAS MADE TO THAT COMMUNITY. WE ARE UPHOLDING THAT TODAY , AND COUNCIL. I HOPE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS? I WILL ADD IN A NOTE OF APPRECIATION FOR COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. THIS BUDGET ITEM FAR PRECEDED MY TENURE ON THE COUNCIL. I WAS OBSERVING FROM AFAR THE PROCESS OF GATHERING PEOPLE TO COLLECT PRIORITIES AND THAT THEM AND LOCK THEM INTO CATEGORIES. THAT WAS AN ARDUOUS PROCESS. IT IS BOUND TO BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT AND FRAUGHT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT $27 MILLION. I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE DISCUSSION BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL INTENT, WHICH WAS TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES, AND CENTER THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK PEOPLE IN SEATTLE, SPECIFICALLY DESCENDENTS OF SLAVES. I KNOW YOU MET WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AND DID A LOT OF OUTREACH. I AGREE WITH MANY OF THEIR PRIORITIES. I THINK WE CAME TO A PACKAGE THAT MUCH BETTER PRESENTS THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING INITIATIVE. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE ELBOW GREASE AND BRINGING FORWARD A PACKAGE THAT SEEMS TO WORK FOR MOST EVERYONE . THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE CARE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTERS, IT IS NOW TIME TO CALL A VOTE ON THE BILL. WILL YOU PLEASE GO AHEAD? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]. NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. ITEM THREE, PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> COUNCIL BILL 1209 12. ELIMINATING THE PAYROLL EXPENSE OF OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS -- HOLLINGSORTH, IN FAVOR WITH MOORE AND MORALES OPPOSED. >> OKAY. >> CHAIR STRAUSS AS THIS IS COMING FROM YOUR COMMITTEE, YOU ARE GIVEN THE FLOOR TO EXPLAIN THE LEGISLATION. >> THANK YOU THIS IS COUNCIL BILL 120912 REGARDING LONG-TERM POLICIES ON HOW TO USE THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. THE BILL BEFORE US IS NOT THE BILL I INTRODUCED. THERE'S CLEARLY MORE CONVERSATION TO BE HAD. I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT TODAY AND I URGE A YES VOTE ON THIS BILL. EVEN THOUGH THERE'S CLEARLY MORE CONVERSATION. WE SAW THIS JUST THE OTHER DAY. WHEN THE LAST ROUND OF JUMPSTART POLICIES WERE PASSED, WE ALL THOUGHT TODAY , IN 2024, AS WE LOOKING TO 2025 AND 2026 WE WOULD BE OUT OF THE DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC IMPACTS FROM COVID-19. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE STORM. WE ARE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM. WE'VE SEEN THIS BECAUSE -- AS REFERENCED BY THE DOWNTURN ECONOMIC FORECAST IN OUR BUDGETING CYCLE THIS YEAR. THE ONLY OTHER TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED IS IN OCTOBER OF 2020 AND 2008. WE USE JUMPSTART FOR GENERAL FUND EVERY YEAR THE TAX HAS BEEN IN PLACE, AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THE ORIGINAL PRIORITIES ARE SAFEGUARDED. COLLEAGUES, THAT'S THE BILL BEFORE US. THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH OUR BUDGET IS NOT GOOD. WE SAW THIS WITH THE DOWNTURN FORECAST. WE'VE SEEN THIS WITH SALE TAX, CONSTRUCTION PERMITS BEING DOWN. THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO USE JUMPSTART TO ENSURE THERE IS MORE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN OUR CITY, TO ENSURE THERE'S MORE FOOD IN OUR FOOD BANKS, TO ENSURE OUR MEAL PROVIDERS HAVE FOOD TO MAKE SURE HOMELESS YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL SYSTEMS. TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE. JUMPSTART HAS PREVENTED US FROM ENGAGING IN AUSTERITY BUDGETING, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE ORIGINAL INTENT IS MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE LIFETIME OF THIS TAX. WITH THAT, AGAIN, THE BILL BEFORE US IS NOT THE BILL I INTRODUCED, AND YET, STILL, I URGE A YES VOTE. THANK YOU. >> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MENTION, ONE, AS I WAS READING OVER THE DOCUMENTS THE PAST FEW DAYS, IT DID OCCUR TO ME THAT THIS LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES A REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT FOR THE JUMPSTART DOLLARS THAT WILL STAY AGAINST ANY KIND OF -- WELL NOT ANY , BUT A DOWNTURN IN OUR COLLECTIONS OF THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA. THIS -- WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT REVENUE SOURCE IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL, THEREFORE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T COUNT ON EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR TO FUND OUR BUDGET NEEDS. THIS POLICY PACKAGE DOES HAVE A REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT. HOWEVER IT DOES NOT HAVE A POLICY DEFINING WHEN ONE CAN WITHDRAW FROM THAT REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT. THE GOAL OF THAT ACCOUNT IS TO ESTABLISH A POTS OF MONEY UP ABOUT 10% OF THE TOTAL JUMPSTART REVENUE THAT EXISTS. IT MADE SENSE TO ME TO ESTABLISH -- SINCE THERE IS A REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT, LIKE THE REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT FOR THE RESERVE FUND , I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE A RULE OR SOME LIMITS ON HOW THAT MONEY CAN BE ACCESSED AND SPENT. I DID CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO FINDING -- DEFINING LANGUAGE THAT EXISTS FOR THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT. AT THE LAST MINUTE I THOUGHT THERE'S BEEN TOO MANY AMENDMENTS, AND IT WILL NOT AFFECT 2025. BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS A POLICY ABOUT WHEN WE CAN MOVE MONEY FROM THAT ACCOUNT GOING FORWARD. WHAT KINDS OF EMERGENCIES, ET CETERA. I DECIDED NOT TO PUT THAT FORWARD. IT MERITS CONSIDERATION GOING FORWARD IF WE ARE CREATING THIS REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT TO HEDGE AGAINST ANY UNFORESEEN DOWNTURN IN THE TECH SECTOR, WHICH PRIMARILY SUPPORTS THE PAYROLL EXPENSES THAT ARE DRAWN FROM FOR THIS TAX. FOR THIS RESOURCE FOR THE CITY. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT MAYBE WE CAN THINK ABOUT THIS DURING THE YEAR TO COME. ANYWAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS BILL? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, WILL THE KIRK -- CLERK PLEASE -- OH, SORRY, GO AHEAD. >> I WILL MAKE THIS QUICK. I WANTED TO RESTATE WHAT I SAID EARLIER THIS WEEK WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE FORCES A BILL THAT ELIMINATES THE GUARDRAILS ON SPENDING. EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGINAL JUMPSTART CATEGORIES ARE INCLUDED , IT ALSO ADDS GENERAL FUND. IT DOES NOT PUT GUARDRAILS ON HOW MUCH GENERAL FUND TO BE SPENT, NOR DOES IT MAKE A COMMITMENT TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES FOR THE ORIGINAL THINGS, LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GREEN NEW DEAL AND AND ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION, WHICH WILL NOW ARE IMPORTANT. IT ALSO ELIMINATES THE OVERSIGHT TASK FORCE OF THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. AND REINSTATES THE SUNSET DATE AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE INCREASING OUR RELIANCE ON WHAT WE KNOW IS A SOURCE OF REVENUE TO FUND BASIC CITY SERVICES. THAT'S NOT WHAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY LOOKS LIKE, IN MY OPINION. I WILL BE VOTING NO, THANK YOU, CHAIR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> OKAY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I TOO AM GOING TO BE VOTING NOW AGAINST THIS AGAIN BECAUSE IT HAS NO GUARDRAILS. AS I STATED WHEN I VOTED NO IN COMMITTEE, WHERE I DRAW THE LINE IS AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I APPRECIATE IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET WE HAVE ALLOCATED A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE RESTORED MONEY. THIS COUNCIL HAS ADDED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE CANNOT RELY ON THE GOODWILL OF THE EXECUTIVE. THAT'S AN APPLICATION OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY. AS A CO-AN EQUAL SEPARATE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. I BELIEVE THAT DOES THIS. I WAS ALSO CONVINCED BY BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS ' ARGUMENT. PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME TO SUPPORT THE SUNSET. I ACTUALLY WAS CONVINCED BY YOUR ARGUMENTS. AMAZING WE CAN BE CONVINCED BY ARGUMENTS ON THE DAIS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE OUR MINDS BASED ON THE COMPELLING ARGUMENTS OUR COLLEAGUES PUT FORTH. I SUPPORT YOU . I DO SUPPORT USING JUMPSTART DOLLARS IN GENERAL FUND. I THINK AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY WE HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES THAT FLEXIBILITY. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO SET GUARDRAILS FOR OURSELVES, AS WELL. IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO -- EXCUSE ME, JUMPSTART TO FILL OUR GENERAL FUND WE SHOULD BE HONEST ABOUT THAT AND REMOVE THE SUNSET. I DON'T THINK IN 16 YEARS WE ARE GOING TO FIND OURSELVES IN A DIFFERENT POSITION. FOR THOSE TWO REASONS I AM VOTING AGAINST THIS. THANK YOU. >> WOULD YOU CARE TO SPEAK, CHAIR STRAUSS. >> IF I CAN BE LAST, THOUGH, IF THAT WORKS. >> SURE. I HAD A THOUGHT, AND THEN IT MIGHT HAVE LEFT MY MIND. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REMEMBER AND SATE AT THE END. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> WANTING TO BRING UP THE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND EVALUATION. A PIECE OF NUANCE THAT LOST IN ALL THE ACTION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. THE OVERSIGHT BOARD WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION TRANSMITTED TO US YOUR COUNCIL. WITHIN THERE THERE WAS STILL MONEY SET UP FOR AN EVALUATION OF THIS PROGRAM. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT THE EVALUATION OF THIS TAX STILL CONTINUE. WHEN THE EVALUATION MONEY WAS REMOVED DURING OUR AMENDMENT PROCESS, THAT'S WHEN MY POSITION ON THE OVERSIGHT BOARD CHANGED. THIS WEEK YOU SAW ME VOTE IN FAVOR OF REINSTATING THE OVERSIGHT BOARD . HAD I KNOWN THAT THE EVALUATION MONEY WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN, I WOULD HAVE INCLUDED THAT IN MY ORIGINAL BASE BILL. IT IS NOT OKAY FOR US TO REMOVE THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IN THE EVALUATION OF THIS TAX. WE CAN'T DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE. I'M STILL VERY CONCERNED , AND YET , STILL, TODAY I WILL URGE A YES VOTE. THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE, THOUGH. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, LET'S VOTE, PLEASE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM THREE. >> CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM NUMBER TWO? THANK YOU. [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN. ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK READ ITEM THREE INTO THE RECORD. COUNCIL BILL 120905 . INCLUDING A CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND POSITION MODIFICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR 2025 AND GRADING POSITIONS EXEMPT FROM CIVIL SERVICE. ALL BY A TWO THIRDS VOTE. EXCUSE ME WITH -- IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. EXTENSIONS. >> THANK YOU. YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADDRESS THIS. >> COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE BILL TO SPEAK TO. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CLERKS, AND EVERYONE ELSE, FOR MAKING THIS BUDGET VOTING PROCESS SO MUCH MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD , USING A CONSENT AGENDA. COLLEAGUES WE WOULD HAVE VOTED ON 35 BILLS INDIVIDUALLY HAD WE NOT USED CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BEFORE I GET INTO MY REMARKS ABOUT OUR BUDGET WE HAVE AMENDED, THE CHAIRS PACKAGE AND ALL OF THAT. I'M GOING TO BRING US BACK TO SEPTEMBER 24th, WHEN WE WERE HERE IN CHAMBERS. WE WERE RECEIVING THE MARINERS PACKAGE. THIS ROOM WAS FILLED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK FOR US ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WE HAD FOLKS FROM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. PEOPLE WHO MADE SURE WE HAVE CLEAN , GREAT AMAZING QUALITY WATER. FOLKS THAT INSURED ELECTRICITY IS WORKING . WE ARE GENERATING ELECTRICITY. EVEN AFTER INTENSE STORMS WE ARE ABLE TO GET ELECTRICITY BACK UP TO AS MANY CUSTOMERS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE HAD THE PEOPLE FROM -- CONSTRUCTION AND INVESTMENTS. PEOPLE THAT MAKE SURE THE SEATTLE CENTER IS THE HEART OF OUR CITY. CIVICS IN SO MANY WAYS. NEW WATERFRONT. FOLKS IN HERE WHO MAKE SURE OUR ROADWAYS ARE POSSIBLE AND SIDEWALKS ARE WALKABLE. AND IF THERE ARE NOT SIDEWALKS , THEY WILL BID THEM AFTER THIS NEXT TRANSPORTATION LOBBY GETS IMPLEMENTED. WE HAD FIRE, POLICE CARE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARMS. WE HAD THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE. WE HAD THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE SURE AND WORK ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EVERYDAY. PEOPLE WHO MAKE SURE THE CITY IS WORKING TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS. WE HAD THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE SURE OUR LIBRARIES ARE OPEN AND WELCOMING. PEOPLE WHO ARE TASKED WITH DELIVERING OUR EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING COMMITMENTS. PEOPLE IN HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT SERVE ALL AGES AND ABILITIES , ON TOP OF MAKING SURE CONTRACTS GO OUT THE DOOR TO DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT WE, APPEAR ON THE DAIS, TALK ABOUT. FOLKS INCREASING OUR AXIS AND DECREASING GRAFFITI. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS WHO, OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, BROUGHT MORNING TO US FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAN IN RECENT MEMORY. OF COURSE WE HAD THIS BARBER IN THE ROOM. I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE KNOWS MS. BARBARA. SHE WAS HERE. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOUR FACE, MS. BARBARA. WE HAD WORKERS DOING THE WORK WE TALK ABOUT. PEOPLE WHO BUILD THE BUILDINGS, DELIVER THE SERVICES, WHO MEET WITH THE PEOPLE , WHO MEET WITH SEATTLEITES ON THEIR WORST DAYS, AND THE FOLKS WHO CELEBRATE WITH THEM ON THEIR BEST DAYS. THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO SCHEDULED MEETINGS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS AND MAKE SURE THE BUILDINGS ARE SAFE, CLEAN, AND WELCOMING FOR US TO USE. THIS ROOM ON SEPTEMBER 24th WAS FILLED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK ON BEHALF OF SEATTLEITES. BRING US BACK TO THAT MOMENT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE HAVE ENDEAVORED SO MUCH. I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR MAKING THEIR VOICE HEARD. WE'VE HOSTED FIVE VERBAL CUP PUBLIC COMMENT. MAX. 25 PLUS OUR HEARINGS. THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME TO MAKE SURE YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD . CANDIDLY, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE LEARNED YOUR NAME, REVEREND, IAN, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. THESE ARE PEOPLE I'VE COME TO KNOW. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE DD BEHIND THE MASK, BUT I CAN'T TELL. ANYWAY. WE'VE GOTTEN TOR. YOHAS MADE AN IMPACT ON THIS BUDGET. COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. TO CAP OFF A SEVENTH MONTH PRACTICE TO GET US TO WHERE WE STARTED -- ARE TODAY. ADDRESS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUDGET DEFICITS WHILE SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC FACING SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE YOUR CONVERSATION, I ASK YOU GO OUTSIDE. THE MICROPHONE STILL WORK OUT THERE SO YOU CAN STILL HEAR US. WHEN THE MAYOR MADE HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL WE FACED A DEFICIT OF MORE THAN $250 MILLION. LESS THAN A MONTH AGO THE REVENUE FORECAST INCREASED, SHOWED US WE CAN EXPECT NEARLY $50 MILLION LESS IN OUR GENERAL FUND. CONTINUE RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 IN -- PANDEMIC. THIS IS THE FINAL YEAR WE CAN USE COVID REALLY FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS BUDGET WOULD HAVE BEEN HARDER AND WORSE HAD THE MAYOR NOT ENACTED SMART BUDGETING SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THIS YEAR. WHICH WAS THE FIRST STEP TO STRUCTURAL STATUS -- SUSTAINABILITY. TRANSMITTED A BUDGET TO US AND THEN WAS THE DOWNTURN FORECAST. EVEN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL WAS OUT OF BALANCE. IT WAS UP TO US TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. A HARD JOB GOT HARDER. THROUGH COLLABORATION AND LOTS OF LONG HOURS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM WHILE INVESTING IN PROGRAM SEATTLEITES RELY ON EVERYWHERE IN OUR CITY. IT WAS NO EASY FEAT AND WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COLLABORATION DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS. THIS BUDGET REFLECTS PRIORITIES FROM EVERY SINGLE COUNCILMEMBER ON THIS DAIS. I'M ABOUT TO GO ALPHABETICALLY, NOT IN ORDER FAVORITES. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP ENSURING WE ARE NOT ONLY RESTORING PRINTINGS AND PROVIDERS, WE ARE ALSO INCREASING THEM. YOU CHAMPIONED IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR PARKS AND INSURED WE ARE FULLY FUNDING THE COMPLETION OF THE GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK. HAPPY TO BE THE CHAMPION FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND I'M ALSO HAPPY TO HAVE A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE CHAMPION NETWORK. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. WHILE THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL IS COMMITTED, YOU ARE AN IMMENSE CHAMPION THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK YOU DID TO SHAPE OUR FINAL PROPOSAL. WE CAN EXPECT TO GET HUNDRED MORE PEOPLE OFF OUR SPEED STREET INTO SAFE PLACES. BECAUSE OF YOUR ADVOCACY WE ARE MAKING NEW INVESTMENTS, INTRODUCING HOUSING AND SYSTEM PROGRAMS LIKE WE CARE. IT GOES BEYOND THAT YOU REQUESTED IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS FOR OUR CITY AND THE CORE OF OUR CITY THAT EVERYONE RELIES ON. FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY TO PORTAGE PARK YOU MADE A BIG IMPACT THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER BUSTER, BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE MADE AN ADDITIONAL $7.1 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE . YOU CHANGED OUR MINDS ON THE DAIS REGARDING THE LAST $3 MILLION. WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO GO TO A GOOD AND IMPORTANT PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT THIS. I WILL REITERATE THE WORDS ABOUT BEING A HOUSING CHAMPION I SHARED ON THE DAIS. WITHOUT YOU WE WOULD BE IN A WORSE PLACE. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RESTORE -- MAKE INVESTMENTS TO HELP VICTIMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PROGRAMS. UNDERSERVED SPANISH COMMUNITIES. INVESTMENTS IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY MAKING ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THROUGH YOUR WORK , YOU SAVED ADDITIONAL JOBS OF PEOPLE WHO SERVE OUR CITY IN OUR CITY FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. SOMETHING YOU HAVE CHAMPIONED EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I AM REALLY PROUD IT'S IN OUR BUDGET TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING AND RESTORING FUNDING FOR THE STOREFRONT REPAIR PROGRAM. SINCE FUNDING HAS RUN OUT. ALL YOUR WORK ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE NEW INVESTMENTS FOR THE 911 CALL CENTER TO ANSWER CALLS FASTER WE ARE RESTORING THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND THAT HAD BEEN ELIMINATED. IN CREATING A NEW SAFETY HUB. SAFETY HUB COORDINATOR IN NORTH SEATTLE. THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL WORD THERE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THANK YOU FOR CHAMPING ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITIES POPULAR CHILD PROGRAM. I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER FORGET YOUR STATEMENTS THERE OF BEING SO EXACTING OF WHAT DOLLAR FIGURE COULD REMOVE -- HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM THAT WAITLIST. WE KNOW THAT CHILDCARE CAN BE AS EXPENSIVE AS A SECOND MORTGAGE . FOR WORKING FAMILIES THEY NEED ACCESS TO CHILDCARE . THIS INVESTMENT WILL CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES. BACK TO MY SCRIPT. YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN A CHAMPION FOR STRENGTHENING SEATTLE'S COMMITMENT . THANK YOU FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS IS A BETTER BUDGET BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK. COUNCILMEMBER WOO, BECAUSE OF YOUR ADVOCACY WE ARE MAKING LARGER INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS WITH FOCUS ON CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT . YOU HAVE RIGHTLY SCHOOLED US ON WHICH PART OF CID IS A SPECIFIC PART OF CID. I WOULD LIKE -- I WILL NEVER FORGET GETTING SCHOOLED LIKE THAT APPEAR ON THE DAIS. THANK YOU. IT'S MADE US ALL BETTER . BECAUSE OF YOU WE ARE SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC BASED -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY YOU TOOK UP THAT MANTLE FOR , AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IN THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN. RESTORING SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN THAT WOULD'VE OTHERWISE GONE AWAY. YOU HELPED CHAMPION THE CONSTELLATION CENTER FOR YOUTH CARE THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUTH COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. FOR YEARS TO COME. I SAID THIS BEFORE, I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. OUR CITY IS BETTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL . THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT YOU MADE IN NINE MONTHS IS INCREDIBLE THANK YOU. FOR MYSELF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THIS BUDGET DOES IS PRESERVE AND PROTECT MANY CITY JOBS THAT WERE SCHEDULED TO END ON JANUARY 1st. WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE MAYOR TAKING THE STEPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO GET US ON BETTER BUDGET SUSTAINABILITY AND STRUCTURAL SUSTAINABILITY A LOT OF -- SIX MORE MONTHS TO CREATE A SMOOTHER TRANSITION AND HOPEFULLY HAVING A CHANCE TO GET THEM INTO ANOTHER CITY OPENING. INDEFINITELY TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THEIR HOLIDAYS WHIRRING WHAT JANUARY 2nd WILL LOOK LIKE. REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LAID OFF AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FULLY APPRECIATED. ANOTHER IMPORTANT QUESTION THE MAYOR'S OFFICE CALLED WAS ABOUT THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. THE FUNDING RELIED ON IS NOT SOUND. IT'S DECREASING. WE'VE SEEN THE PRESENTATIONS. WITHOUT AN INTERVENTION, THERE'S NO WAY TO KEEP IT INDEPENDENT FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS INPUT. THANKS TO THE WORK OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANKS TO THE WORK OF MY STAFF, WE ARE GOING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THE SEATTLE CHANNEL HAS INDEPENDENT -- HAS FUNDING. IT ALLOWS FOR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM AND IS ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE HARD AND FAST PHYSICAL SPACE WE HAVE DOWNSTAIRS. WE HAVE A FULL STUDIO DOWNSTAIRS AND A HALLWAY FULL OF BOARDS. I'M HOPING THAT HALLWAY OF EMMY AWARDS WILL EVENTUALLY EXTEND ALL THE WAY TO THE SEVENTH FLOOR. BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL WE ARE NOT JUST PRESERVING JOBS AND SERVICES IN THE SHORT-TERM. WE ARE CREATING A PLAN TO SAFEGUARD THEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE FIRST STEP IN BUDGET REFORM HAPPEN THIS YEAR WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, MAKING SMART CHOICES TO GET US TO HAVING -- THERE BUDGET PROPOSAL IN SEPTEMBER. THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE COUNCILS DELIBERATION, WE HAVE PUT FORWARD A NUMBER OF STATEMENT AND LEGISLATIVE INTENT. REPORTS REQUESTING INFORMATION WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. OUR JOB IS NOT DONE. I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY IT'S. WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. ESPECIALLY AS WE FACE AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND FUNDING FOR SO MANY CRUCIAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS COMES INTO QUESTION. IF THE PAST IS ANY INDICATOR OF THE FUTURE, I PREDICT WE WILL BE IN THE STORM WITH THE DOWNTURN -- DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC IMPACTS FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE YEARS AND LIKELY UP TO FOUR. AS WAS MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO ON THE LAST BILL, THERE ARE UNSETTLED QUESTIONS. HOW WE USE JUMP START MOVING FORWARD AND HOW WE ENSURE WE ARE HOLDING OURSELVES AND THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACHIEVING RESULTS THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS. THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH HARD WORK AND CONSENSUS BUILDING WE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. WE'VE GOT MORE INFORMATION ON THE WAY. THE JOB IS NOT DONE. WE WILL SEE YOU HERE AGAIN NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO THIS BUDGET, FOR YOUR WORK ON THE DAIS TO GET US TO THIS POINT. I WANT TO THANK YOUR ENTIRE OFFICE, AND FORMER DIRECTOR FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK TO GET US TO THIS POINT. YOUR PARTNERSHIP THIS YEAR. THANK YOU TO THE CENTRAL STAFF ANALYST, WE QUITE LITERALLY CANNOT HAVE DONE WITHOUT EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. THANK YOU TO THE CLERKS. THE SEATTLE CHANNEL FOR MAKING SURE THIS IS ON THE AIR. THANK YOU TO MY STAFF FOR MAKING SURE THAT THESE MEETINGS RAN SMOOTHLY . I JOKED WITH A COUPLE OF MEMBERS THAT SUCCESS ISN'T BY ACCIDENT, SMOOTHNESS IS NOT BY ACCIDENT. SMOOTHNESS OCCURRED THIS BUDGETING CYCLE, FOR THE MOST PART, BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING STAFF THAT KNOW HOW TO DO THIS WORK AND DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY. TWO SUMMARIZE, WE TOOK BIG STEPS TOWARDS ASSISTANT -- SUSTAINABILITY THIS YEAR AND REQUESTED IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO CONTINUE THIS WORK BECAUSE WE CANNOT ONLY GROW OUR WAY OUT OR CUT OUR WAY OUT WE WILL CONTINUE THIS BUDGET REFORM WORK NEXT YEAR. IN WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR MAKING THEIR VOICE HEARD. FROM THE THOUSANDS OF EMAILS WE GOT TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS TO THE 5+ HOUR PUBLIC HEARING S WE HAD. THEY WERE SO LONG I STOOD UP FOR THE SECOND ONE. WE WERE HERE UNTIL FOLKS DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO SAY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR VOICES WERE HEARD , AND IT TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. I URGE A YES VOTE. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT TO THE FLOOR FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO MAKE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE. ARE THERE ANY HYMNS? I AM NOT SEEING IN THE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, AT THE START OF THE BUDGET PROCESS I MADE A COMMITMENT TO MY CONSTITUENTS TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I AM PROUD THIS BUDGET LIVES UP TO THAT PROMISE. I ALSO MADE A COMMITMENT TO SET ASIDE DIFFERENCES AND WORK TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR ON A SET OF SHARED PRIORITIES. THIS BUDGET REFLECTS OUR EFFORTS TO COME TOGETHER ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. I SEE A COUNCIL THAT LARGELY ALIGNED ON KEY PRIORITIES. HALF OF THE AMENDMENTS FOR THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL AND BALANCING PACKAGE WERE RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, AND I WAS NOT ALONE. IN THE LAST YEAR, THIS COUNCIL PAST 11 PIECES OF PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION. WE HAVE ALSO STARTED TO REBUILD A WORKING RELATIONSHIP OF THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE WORK TO MORE QUICKLY RECRUIT , HIRE AND RETAIN OFFICERS OUR CITY NEEDS. WHILE WE HAVE MORE TO DO, AND PROUD TO -- WE HAVE TURNED THE TIDE. WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FOR UP PEOPLE APPLYING THIS LAST YEAR. BASED ON THAT INCREASE, CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC IT WILL HIRE MORE OFFICERS THAN IT LOSES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019. WE ADDED MEASURES OF TRANSPARENCY AND PERFORMANCE TO OUR OFFICERS REFLECT AND UPHOLD SEATTLE'S VALUES. IN THIS BUDGET, I AM PROUD TO HAVE SPONSORED AN AMENDMENT TO ADD ADDITIONAL 911 CALL TAKER POSITIONS TO BE SOLELY DEDICATED TO ANSWERING THE NONEMERGENCY LINE . WAIT TIMES HAVE BEEN FAR TOO LONG. ONE THIRD OF THE CALLS TO THE NONEMERGENCY LINE TURN OUT TO BE REAL EMERGENCIES. TO ADDRESS YOUTH VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH END, I PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT WITH MAYOR HARRELL 'S SUPPORT TO CREATE A YOUTH VIOLENCE SAFETY HUB IN NORTH SEATTLE. NATIONALLY WE ARE SEEING MORTALITY RATES AMONG OUR CHILDREN ARISE. BECAUSE OF YOUTH VIOLENCE. WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS WORRYING TREND LOCALLY WITH INVESTMENTS AND -- IN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND CONNECTING VULNERABLE YOUTH VIA SAFETY HUBS. I ALSO REQUESTED THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT RESEARCH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOBERING CENTER TO BEST MEET SEATTLE'S DIVERSION NEEDS. I'M GRATEFUL FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT SARA NELSON'S COSPONSORSHIP ON THIS REQUEST. TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS, I ASK FOR TO PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARDS TO ENSURE OUR INVESTMENTS IN THE 911 CALL CENTER AND THE EXPANSION OF THE CARE DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING. DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS, THIS COUNCIL BEGAN APPLYING THE SAME LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE REQUESTED INFORMATION AND REPORTS THROUGH STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT, ALSO KNOWN AS -- THAT GROUNDWORK WILL HELP US GROUND -- THE DATA WE NEED TO MAKE WELL INFORMED, WELL REASONED BUDGET DECISIONS, BASED ON PERFORMANCE, AND OUTCOME NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND. I WILL BE TRACKING THE STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT CLOSELY. THE CHAIRS OF THE INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEES ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE S.L.I.'S ARE BEING SUBMITTED AND ANALYZED IN A TIMELY MANNER. IF COUNCIL CANNOT GET THE INFORMATION FROM THOSE REQUESTS, THEN WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE FUNDS NEXT YEAR TO GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED. THIS COUNCIL MUST BE HIGHLY FOCUSED ON WHERE OUR SPENDING PRIORITIES LIE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE WILL FACE A BUDGET DEFICIT IN 2027, BUT BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL LANDSCAPE WILL BRING. OUR CITY GOVERNMENT WILL NEED THE ABILITY TO QUICKLY ADDRESS CHANGING PRIORITIES OR EMERGING CRISES. WE ARE ALL GRAPPLING WITH THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR FUNDING SOURCES. I BELIEVE PRESCRIPTIVE REVENUE SOURCES HAMSTRING SITTING COUNCILS FROM ADDRESSING SEATTLE'S CHALLENGING PRIORITIES. OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN WE DISAGREE ON THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED. AS YOU SAW IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS, WE CAN DO SO WITH RESPECT AND CIVILITY. I AM PROUD OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND COMPROMISES I SAW IN THIS BUDGET. THIS IS A DIFFERENT TONE AT CITY HALL, AND IT BENEFITS ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET. I AM HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON OUR RESIDENTS PRIORITIES SO WE CAN ALL LIVE IN A HEALTHY, THRIVING CITY. THIS BUDGET PACKAGE MAINTAIN THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES. WE SPEND FIVE TIMES MORE ON HOUSING NOW THAN WE DID IN 2019. AN INCREASE FROM 69 MILLION TO 342 MILLION ANNUALLY. PACKAGE ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR TENANT SERVICES AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE. THAT INCLUDES REPORTING REQUEST SO WE CAN LEARN WHERE IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO BE MADE TO ENSURE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SAFE AND AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT. OUR BUDGET HAS ROBUST INVESTMENTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SEATTLE'S LOW INCOME AND FROM NOBLE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS CRITICAL . I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO SUPPORT OUR WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES WHO ARE FEELING UNDERREPRESENTED. THAT IS WHY RESTORING THE FUNDING FOR APPRENTICESHIPS TO THE TRADES THROUGH THE FAS PARTY PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT TO ME. YOUNG PEOPLE NEED OPTIONS FOR WELL-PAYING ESSENTIAL JOBS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF A UNIVERSITY DEGREE. SEATTLE MUST WORK FOR EVERYONE. OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, OUR WORKING FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESSES, SENIORS , AND YOUNG PEOPLE. THANK YOU TO CHAIR DAN STRAUSS FOR HIS ROLE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COUNCILMEMBERS AND LEGISLATIVE AIDES. I AM AWFUL -- ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE STAFF, DIRECTOR BEN NOBLE AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM. ALSO FOR OUR CITY CLERK AND HER CITY CLERK'S WHO HELPED A SHEPHERD THIS BUDGET THROUGH THE PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM, IN PARTICULAR, WENDY SYKES , AND GAVIN. FOR THEIR LONG HOURS OF WORK AND COMMITMENT TO DISTRICT 4. AS WE FINISH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS, I REMAIN COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY , SETTING A NEW TONE FOR CITY HALL. TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A SAFER AND MORE AFFORDABLE SEATTLE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE NEED BUDGET REFORM. THIS PROCESS STARTED. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. IN ADDITION TO THE RESERVE STABILIZATION WORKGROUP, WE DO NEED EXPENSES STABILIZATION WORKGROUP . TO THIS POINT, THE DATA REQUESTING STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT CAN HELP. THE SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE IMPORTANT IN THE KEY EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. THU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, EFFORTS ON THIS FRONT. WE NEED GREATER BACKSTOPPING WITH COUNCIL , COMMITTEE ACTIONS. TOO OFTEN WE NEED IT TO MAKE -- THAT COULD'VE BEEN BENEFITED BY HAVING THAT TOPIC IN OUR WORK MEETINGS. PUBLIC SAFETY. ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. COMMUNITY WORK AND IN TURN" -- -- ASSIST THE REPRESENTATIVE. AND NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSALS. REVENUE, TAXES SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COMPLETE SET OF CONTEXT. TO UNDERSTAND SECOND AND THIRD ORDER EFFECTS OF ANY DECISION MADE. WE CANNOT BE LOOKING AT ANYTHING IN ISOLATION. ON REVENUE, AS WELL, I BELIEVE CREATING SILOS OR BUCKETS TO BE ALLOCATED REFLECTS FAILURES . TO PROPERLY DEFINE OUR PRIORITIES. IF WERE GOING TO BE DOING SILOS AND BUCKETS WE NEED TO HAVE ONE CALLED DEFICITS. WE NEED TO HAVE ONE CALLED RESERVE. WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE, IN PART, WITH THIS BUDGET. I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, AND THE VARIOUS TEAMS ON PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE SUPPORT FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH THE PROSECUTOR AND THE TWO CIVIL DEPARTMENT CITY ATTORNEYS. WHETHER IT'S 30 BY 30, CHAMPIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND SAKA. THE RECRUITMENT PIECES . FIRE WITH THE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH. OVERDOSE WORK RECRUITMENT. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. EVEN FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND THE 911 CALL SYSTEM. THE DASHBOARD. TO THE EXECUTIVE FOR THE REGISTRATION PROGRAM WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT IT'S KICKING OFF WITH THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM. OEM. A NARRATIVE ALSO FORGOTTEN ABOUT. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THANK YOU TO THE ELEMENTS IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT. IN ADDITION I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU IN OTHER AREAS , AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS NOTED. PUBLIC HEALTH SERMON -- HUMAN SERVICES. WE CANNOT EXCEED PUBLIC SAFETY IF WE DON'T ALSO SUCCEED IN PUBLIC HEALTH OR HUMAN SERVICES. WE CANNOT JUST BE PUSHING ON ONE , WE HAVE TO BE PUSHING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN. TO YOUR POINT, SO IMPORTANT . LEGAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, VERY IMPORTANT. GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS. NOT TALKED ABOUT YET. THAT'S GOING TO BE KEY. THAT GOES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES POINT. WE HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS. SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN. I CAN BE A SURPRISE OF HOW INFLUENTIAL THAT CAN BE ON WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE FUTURE RELATED TO HOUSING. FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE IN DISTRICT. JUST DOING THINGS EARLY AND RIGHT. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A DISASTER . TO THE STUDY NOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE. DO IT EARLY. USUALLY LESS COSTLY. I THINK EVERYONE FOR THE PORTAL PARK STUDY . SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. HOPEFULLY FOR THE WORLD CUP ALSO SUPPORT TO THE WATERFRONT PARK. A KEY NEW FRONT PORCH FOR OUR CITY. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE TEAMS. I HAVE MY IMMEDIATE TEAM, MY STAFF, BUT IT'S ALSO THE VARIOUS COMMITTEE TEAM. SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE TEAM AND STAFFS TO INCLUDE THE STAFF HELPFUL TO MY STAFF. THE OTHER STAFFS, TOO AS WE WORK INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS. GOING OUT ANOTHER LAYER. CENTRAL STAFF TEAM, SO IMPORTANT. DIRECTOR NOBLE, THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM. NOT JUST THE PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH WE WORK SO CLOSELY WITH, BUT ALL THE OTHERS. THIS IS VERY BENEFICIAL IN THE SENSE OF ENGAGING WITH SOME OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS WE MAY NOT NORMALLY ENGAGE AS MUCH WITH. ALSO WITH THE CLERKS, THE CITY CLERK SYSTEM. OUR RECENT BIRTHDAY PERSON , SITTING IN FRONT OF US. SORRY, I HAD TO DO THAT. THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> LET ME SEE, WHO ELSE HAS THEIR HAND. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> THANK YOU. THIS BUDGET IS MORE THAN A FINANCIAL DOCUMENT. THE ROAD MAP FOR ACTION. FLEX OUR COMMITMENT TO TACKLING ISSUES FACE ON. PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DISPARITY. CLIMATE CHANGE AND NEEDING TO STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL FABRIC THAT BINDS US TOGETHER. POWERED BY DIVERSITY, CREATIVITY AND RESILIENCE OF ITS PEOPLE. TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE STRUGGLING. FINDING HOUSING, NAVIGATING PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM, RECOVERING FROM ECONOMICS UP OR DEALING WITH THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND CRAFTING THIS BUDGET I BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL HAS REMAINED FOCUSED ON KEY PRINCIPLES, I BELIEVE, WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN EVERYONE'S LIVES. WE'VE MADE INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING AND HOMELESS SOLUTIONS. INCLUDE INVESTMENTS WITH SHELTER CAPACITY AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES. ENSURING MORE SATELLITES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A SAFE AND STABLE PLACE TO STAY. REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE SAFETY AND JU LAUNCH OF THE INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING MUTUAL AID AND DE-ESCALATION TEAMS. THIS INITIATIVE WILL -- TOOLS, TRAINING AND BEST PRACTICES TO CREATE SAFETY FROM WITHIN. ADDITIONALLY EXPANSION OF DRUG DIVERSION SERVICES. SAFETY AMBASSADORS FOR CHILDREN AND ELDERS. HOLDING AN INCLUSIVE ECONOMY THAT INCLUDES WORKING FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONES OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT'S WHY THIS BUDGET INCLUDES WORKFORCE AND SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES, SUPPORTING JOB GROWTH AND CLEAN ECONOMY. FUNDING FOR EMPOWERING REFUGEE WOMEN TO OVERCOME EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS. STRENGTHENED ARTS, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY. OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE ARTS WORKFORCE. PROTECT THE MISSION TAX, ENSURING VITAL RESOURCES REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY. ALSO SUPPORTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS. FUNDING FOR SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR LIBRARIES, FOOD ACCESS, ENSURING A SOFTER -- STRONGER SAFETY NET. COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING AND MET COMMUNITY NEEDS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TOGETHER. ADVANCED INITIATIVES NOT ONLY RESPONSE TO TODAY'S CHALLENGES BUT LAYS A FOUNDATION FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR THE MAKING THIS COLLABORATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR ALL THEIR WORK. THIS BUDGET IS MORE THAN A REFLECTION OF WHERE WE ARE. THE DECLARATION OF WHERE WE ARE GOING. A TOOL FOR UNITY, EMPOWERMENT AND PROGRESS. WITH EVERYONE'S CONTINUED SUPPORT I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN BUILD A SEATTLE WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED. >> ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE'S HANDS RAISED. I WILL PROVIDE -- I'M SORRY. OKAY, YES. WHO WAS FIRST, PLEASE? COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, GLAD. >> THANK YOU MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT. TODAY I WANT TO DISCUSS THREE THINGS. SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PATH , COLLABORATION, THE POWER OF COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY WINS WE AREN'T TOGETHER. WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST ONE, SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PATH. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS WE ARE ABLE TO NOT ONLY MAINTAIN FUNDING , IN SOME CASES EXPAND FUNDING FOR CRITICAL SERVICES ACROSS OUR CITY. TAKING CARE OF AND LOOKING AFTER OUR MOST VULNERABLE. REMARKABLY, WE ARE ABLE TO ALSO PUT OURSELVES ON A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PATH . LAID THE INITIAL GROUNDWORK FROM WHICH TO BUILD UPON. ON THAT SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PATH I'M REMINDED OF -- FIRST OFF, I TRY TO TAKE QUOTES AND INSPIRATION FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES. RIGHT NOW I WOULD LIKE TO REFLECT UPON THE WISE WORDS OF A GREAT 21ST-CENTURY PHILOSOPHER AND FUTURE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMER . WHO ONCE TAUGHT US , TAKE CARE OF Y'ALL'S MENTALS, BODIES, AND CHICKENS. COLLEAGUES, HE WASN'T JUST TALKING TO THOSE YOUNG -- LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE OURSELVES, IN SEATTLE, CAN DERIVE LESSONS FROM FUTURE HALL OF FAMER. WE DID THAT. WE INITIATED BUDGET REFORM. THANKS TO THE BUDGET CHAIRS LEADERSHIP WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSELY EXAMINE AND SCRUTINIZE OR AUDIT THE CITY'S BUDGET AND TO END . EXAMINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EFFICIENCIES. OPPORTUNITIES FOR DRIVING FURTHER IMPACT IN INVESTMENT. THAT LEADS ME TO THE POWER OF COLLABORATION. LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE, ACKNOWLEDGE , AND CELEBRATE HOW TRULY COLLABORATIVE THIS PROCESS WAS. MR. CHAIR, I'M LOOKING AT YOU. I ALWAYS SAY ABOUT THE FULL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IS RATHER MESSY, CLUNKY, AND OFTEN TIMES AWKWARD. NO DOUBT WE'VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. A LOT OF BIT OF THAT. LIVE IN REAL-TIME THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND OTHER PROCESSES, TOO. WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE DIFFERENCES AND DISAGREEMENTS . PHILOSOPHICAL OR OTHERWISE. EACH TIME IT IS DONE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE, FOR THE MOST PART. WE NEVER, NEVER QUESTION THE MOTIVES OF EACH OTHER AND ALWAYS STRIVE TO ASSUME THE OVERALL GOOD FAITH AND INTENT OF EACH OTHER. COLLEAGUES, WE ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND RALLY AND UNITE FROM ONE COMMON GOAL FOR NEEDS, HUGE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT MAKE OUR CITY SUCH A VIBRANT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. WE MUST ALWAYS REMIND OURSELVES WE ARE SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE OF OUR CIVIC AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE SHOULD HAPPEN. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU, COLLEAGUES. STARTING OFF WITH BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS. THANK YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, FOR TACKLING ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING BUDGETS AND -- CERTAINLY IN OUR CITY'S RECENT HISTORY. I APPRECIATE YOUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AND ENSURING WE DO HAVE A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE WONDERFUL DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY AND ALLOWS US TO EFFECTIVELY MEET THE NEEDS. YOU SHEPHERDED AND LED A TERRIFIC AND COLLABORATIVE PROCESS . ALONG THE WAY YOU PROVIDED VERY UNIQUE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND INTERESTING INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT , THE PRESIDING OFFICERS OF TODAY'S MEETING. YOU HAVE ALSO PROVIDED STEADFAST LEADERSHIP ON ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, ESPECIALLY ON ISSUES RELATED TO GOOD OLD-FASHIONED GOOD GOVERNANCE. IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE THE WINDS ARE BLOWING, THIS WAY OR THE OTHER, AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, YOU'VE BEEN RESOLUTE IN YOUR COMMITMENT. TO DRIVING GOOD GOVERNANCE AND PROVING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER CATTELL, THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM QUEEN ANNE. CHAIR OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RELENTLESS FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, AND CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS , INCLUDING YOUR STRONG SUPPORT OF TRANSIT SECURITY. THE ISSUES WE ARE FACING AS A CITY ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX, CROSSCUTTING AND NUANCE. PERSONALLY, I ADMIRE HOW YOU ARE ALWAYS ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY INCORPORATE AND WEAVE IN PUBLIC SAFETY INTO EVERY SINGLE POLICY DISCUSSION. IT IS TRUE. YOU HAVE LED THE CHARGE ON MOST OF THE OVER 10 OR 11 PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS WE ADOPTED THIS YEAR. SOME OF WHICH WE PUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BEHIND THIS BUDGET PROCESS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CATTELL. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. CHAIR OF OUR LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RELENTLESS FOCUS ON TRANSPARENCY. JUST THE NITTY-GRITTY DETAILS THAT MATTER TO PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES. YOU'VE SHOWN YOURSELVES , THIS YEAR AND THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS, MOST RECENTLY AS A CHAMPION. OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING WISELY INVESTED. YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT, YET AGAIN, DURING THIS BUDGET CYCLE. FOCUS ON HOLDING GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE , NOT LEAST OF WHICH YOU WOULD APPLY TO OUR OWN COUNCIL . SOMETHING I HOPE WE CAN ALL DO A BETTER JOB OF LIVING UP TO AND FOLLOWING YOUR LEAD ON. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. DISTINGUISHED CHAIR OF HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FOR ASKING THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES TO HOW OUR CITY FUNDS CRITICAL NEEDS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING . PROTECTING THOSE MOST RUNNABLE IN OUR SOCIETY . YOU HAVE EMERGED AS A CLEAR CHAMPION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND TENANTS RIGHTS. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY AND UP LEVELING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AROUND JUMPSTART AND EXPLORING NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS SUCH AS CAPITOL GAINS. THESE CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE. I AM THANKFUL THEM TO THE DAIS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH. OUR DISTINGUISHED CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOCUS ON UPLIFTING POLICIES FOR OUR CITY'S FAMILIES AND YOUTH. YOUR BUDGET PRIORITIES, SUCH AS MAKING SURE NO ONE IN OUR CITY GOES HUNGRY , AND THE HUGE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGET TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY MOST IMPACTED BY DISPARITY AND INIQUITY. JUST TO NAME A FEW. IT WAS EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I'M THANKFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR THAT AND SO MANY OTHER AREAS. I AM IMPRESSED AND INSPIRED BY YOUR LEADERSHIP . HOPING TO FIND MORE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO CAME OUT FROM YOUR DISTRICT TO SPEAK ON THE VARIOUS BUDGET PRIORITIES YOU CHAMPIONED IS TRULY A TESTAMENT TO THE CONNECTION TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH. COUNCILMEMBER WOO. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER WOO, WHO HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST STALWART ADVOCATES FOR HER COMMUNITY AND THE TRAFFIC REPRESENTATIVE FOR OUR CITY. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR OUR TIME ON COUNCIL TOGETHER. I AM IMPRESSED BY YOUR WORK ETHIC AND MOVED BY YOUR DEVOTION TO SERVING PEOPLE . YOUR EFFORTS TO BRING FORTH THE VOICES OF MEMBERS OF THE CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IS A LEGACY WE MUST ALL PICK UP THE MANTLE WHERE YOU LEFT OFF. I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE HIGHLY RESPECTED LEADER AND ADVOCATE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU TESTIFYING IN COUNCIL CHAMBER SOMEDAY. OR JOINING YOU ON THE STREETS IN ANY NUMBER OF SHARED COMMUNITY INITIATIVES . THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WOO. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES , FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO POLICIES AROUND AFFORDABILITY , WORKERS PROTECTIONS , AND ESPECIALLY YOUR EFFORTS TO REPRESENT THOSE WHO HAVE HAD HISTORICALLY THE LEAST ACCESS TO THE LEVERS OF POWER. YOU SERVE AS A MODEL FOR ALL OF US IN SO MANY MATERIAL RESPECTS. YOU HAVE ALWAYS STOOD UP FOR EQUITY IN FUNDING . WHILE WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR PROPOSALS, THEY ARE ALL IMPORTANT MEANS THAT BECAUSE OF YOU YOU WERE ABLE TO GIVE VOICE AND BRING LIFE TO. I'M HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU , THIS YEAR, MOST RECENTLY DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS. ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. AND BECAUSE I SEE SILVER LININGS IN ALL CLOUDS , I DO WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR ELEVATING THE DISCUSSION ON ALL OF MY BUDGET PRIORITIES, INCLUDING IN THE CHAIRS BALANCING PACKAGE. ALL OF THEM. ALL OF THEM. I WILL ADMIT, WHEN I FIRST HAPPENED, I NEVER HAD ALL QUESTIONED YOUR MOTIVES OR INTENT. I KNEW YOU WERE DOING THE BEST THING , WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY , YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND SHARED CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE CITY. IT DID GET ME RIGHT HERE AT FIRST. BUT TRULY, I'M GRATEFUL YOU DID THAT , AND ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, IN HINDSIGHT. AGAIN IT DID ALLOW US TO ELEVATE THE DISCUSSION ON MANY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ISSUES. THE RESULT WAS WE HAD THESE PUBLIC DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS , COMMUNITIES ROSE UP TO THE OCCASION, SPOKE FOR THEMSELVES AND ZEALOUSLY ADVOCATED ON THEIR OWN BEHALF. HAD A FEW WATERSHED MOMENTS IN A BIT LIKE THE GARY PAYTON TO SHAWN KEMP ALLEY-OOP , WHERE SHAWN CAMP DUNKED IT WITH EMPHASIS . WE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS AND IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. THERE WERE NO LOSERS . WE NEEDED TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEED TO HAVE THEM. THANK YOU AGAIN, IN ALL HONESTY, FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND ELEVATING OUR CONVERSATION ON SO MANY ISSUES . WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. THANK YOU, MAYOR HARRELL , FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. BEFORE THE BUDGET KICKED OFF . I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING CLOSELY WITH YOU AND YOUR EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT LEADERS ON IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THE THINGS WE ARE FUNDING IN THIS BUDGET PACKAGE. THANK YOU, CENTRAL STAFF, DIRECTOR NOBLE. OUR CITY CLERK AND ASSISTANT CITY CLERK'S. MY OWN LEGISLATIVE AIDES , ELAINE, IAN. TWO MEMBERS WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND CLEANLY . THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND AND ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR LEGISLATIVE AIDES, AS WELL. YOU AS WELL, MR. CHAIR, FOR HELPING FACILITATE THIS PROCESS. SO EXPERTLY. YOU SET A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR SUCCESS. I THINK WE CAN ALL LIVE UP TO. FINALLY, COMMUNITY WINS. I THINK WE ARE ABLE TO THINK BEYOND OUR OWN COUNCIL DISTRICTS. PERSONALLY, DURING THIS PROCESS IT WAS REALLY -- I TRY TO DO THIS ALL YEAR. EVERY CHANCE THAT I GOT. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO GOING FORWARD. WHERE YOU ARE ASSIGNING APPROPRIATIONS TO PRIORITIES AND PROGRAMS . MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO LIVE UP TO ONE OF MY CAMPAIGN COMMITMENTS. CAMPAIGN PROMISES. OF REPRESENTING THE DIVERSE VOICES AND UNIQUE NEEDS OF ALL COMMUNITIES AND ALL PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT. MY WIFE ABSOLUTELY HATES IT WHEN I SAY THAT. I WILL REPRESENT ALL THE INTEREST. I TRIED MY LEVEL BEST THIS BUDGET , AND I FEEL GOOD WE CAN SAY WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. MORE WORK TO DO . ALL OF THIS IS A BASELINE FOR A BODY OF WORK FROM WHICH TO BUILD UPON. I WANT TO THINK, ALSO, MY CONSTITUENTS . BECAUSE OF MY CONSTITUENTS I ENDED UP PROPOSING 21 AMENDMENTS AND S.L.I.'S ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS. MANY WERE DESIGNED TO BENEFIT THEM . MANY WERE DESIGNED TO SPECIFICALLY BENEFIT ALL PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY AND ADDRESS THE BROADER CHALLENGES. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS, WHO SHARED WITH US YOUR VIEWS AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE'S AND INSIGHTS. CHALLENGED US TO BE BETTER AND FOUGHT TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE. TO MAKE SURE -- I AM PROUD TO SAY I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO LIVE UP TO THESE CHALLENGES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES . ALTHOUGH WE MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERY PARTICULAR -- ANY GIVEN POLICY TOPIC, YOU MADE THIS PROCESS BETTER. FOR THAT, I AM THANKFUL. THAT'S IT. THIS IS A BETTER TOGETHER STORY. THANK YOU, AGAIN, MR. CHAIR. BUDGET CHAIR. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND THANK YOU TO MY STAFF, ESPECIALLY, ELAINE AND IAN. >> THANK YOU, WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLANDSWORTH, I SEE YOU HAVE THE NEXT HAND. >> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I KNOW SHE STEPPED OUT FOR A MOMENT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP I WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET CHAIR , DAN STRAUSS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE THIS COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION DURING THIS PROCESS. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOUR STAFF, AS WELL, FOR THE EARLY MORNINGS AND LONG NIGHTS THEY SPEND FACILITATING BETWEEN OFFICES. THANK YOU, ALL. I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR NOBLE, INCREDIBLE CENTRAL STAFF, CITY CLERK. CITY HALL GREETERS. SEATTLE CHANNEL, FRONT DESK, JANITORS. OUR SECURITY TEAM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP DURING THESE LONG NIGHTS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES. I DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUAL WORDS . I WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID , HIS GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF YOU AND THE STAFFS THAT HELPED, LITERALLY HELPED YOU MAKE -- MADE YOU LOOK GOOD, AS WELL. OUR STAFF. ALSO, FOR YOU BEING GREAT REPRESENTATIVES FOR YOUR DISTRICT. I KNOW THERE SOMETIMES -- CITY COUNCIL CAN BE A FRONT PORCH OF POLITICS , BUT I TRULY BELIEVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ARE SERVING YOUR DISTRICTS WITH LOVE, INTENTION , IN CONNECTION . ALWAYS JUST TRYING TO BRING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN ANSWER. I APPRECIATE THAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE IN THE SEATS. IT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT YOU TAKE A LOT OF HITS. I JUST WANT TO SEND MY APPRECIATION FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. TODAY PEOPLE WILL HEAR ABOUT THE BUDGET WINS. COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL TALK ABOUT THE WINS FOR THE DISTRICTS. IT'S WINS FOR OUR CITY. JUST BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE IMPROVEMENTS IN A DISTRICT DOESN'T MEAN IT BLEEDS OVER. DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T BLEED OVER INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION, OR IT STAYS IN THAT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. IT IMPACTS OTHERS. IT'S A WINNER FOR OUR WIN -- IT SADDLE. APPROACH WAS SIMPLE. FOCUS ON THE BOLD BASICS THAT AFFECT EVERYONE'S DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. FUNDAMENTAL OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE. I VISITED SCHOOLS, DONE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, CHURCHES, EVENTS. I HEARD FROM EVERY SINGLE PERSON. THAT'S WHY WE MADE INVESTMENTS IN FOOD SECURITY THROUGH MEAL PROVIDERS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. FOR THE FOOD BANKS, MAIL PROVIDERS. THE LATE-NIGHT ACTIVITIES FOR OUR YOUTH THAT INCLUDES FOOD. THAT'S HOW WE GET KIDS INSIDE. WE OFFER THEM A HOT MEAL. THAT'S WHY WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE SURE OUR SOFTBALL FIELDS HAVE EQUITY WITHIN SPORTS . WE HEARD DIFFERENT TEAMS COME DOWN HERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEY GET RAINED OUT 30% MORE THAN BASEBALL TEAMS. WITH SOME OF OUR TURF AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE THE GAP, AS LONG AS -- CONTINUE TO CLOSE THE GAP. AS LONG AS I CONTINUE TO SERVE I WILL WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL KIDS. THAT'S WHY WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE INVESTMENT IN CAPITOL HILL. I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS TO MAKE IT A COLOR -- COLORFUL AND VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD SAY AM A DAUGHTER OF THE CD, BUT I GREW UP IN THE HILL. MIRA WALKS, SAFETY COORDINATOR, AMBASSADORS ON TOP OF ALL THE INVESTMENTS. BESIDES THE CLEANING, NEW SIGNAGE, LIGHTING AND OTHER IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS, IT'S COMING TO CAPITOL HILL. I HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. WE NEED MORE SAFETY INVESTMENTS ON THE HILL. ONE COMMON THEME I CONTINUE TO HEAR AS I WALK AROUND THE STREETS, AND SOMEONE SAID TO ME, JOY, WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? WHAT ABOUT OUR BABIES? I USED TO WORK AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. I USED TO WORK AT THIS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM HELPING KIDS. I MET THIS YOUNG MAN . I COACHED HIM, HELPED HIM WITH HIS HOMEWORK, PICKED HIM UP FROM SCHOOL. MY JOB WAS COACHING AND BEING A MENTOR. HE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL, PLAYED FOOTBALL AND GRADUATED. UNFORTUNATELY, MOTHER'S DAY, 2020, HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN DEDICATING HER LIFE TO YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND YOUTH SAFETY. LAST YEAR I WENT TO A MEETING, COMMUNITY MEETING , WHERE HIS MOM CAME UP TO ME . I ASKED HER, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO BETTER? I'M TIRED OF COMING TO THESE MEETINGS. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO BETTER? WHAT DO WE NEED FOR THESE KIDS? SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, JOY, YOU SEE THESE ADULTS IN THIS ROOM? I NEED THEM OVER THERE. SHE POINTED TO THE GYM WHERE KIDS WERE PLAYING . SHE SAID I NEED THE ADULTS TO STOP TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND I NEED THEM TO ACTUALLY DO. THEY NEED TO BE IN THAT JIM. THAT'S WHY WE MADE INVESTMENTS AND RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, FUNDING THE ARTS. WE SAY GUN VIOLENCE. THAT IS A POLITICAL TERM . COLLEAGUES, PEOPLE ON THE STREET SAY IT'S OUR BABY SHOOTING EACH OTHER. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE RESPONDING BY POURING FUNDS AND DOLLARS TO HAVE THE IMPACT FOR OUR BABIES TO KEEP THEM SAFE. EVERY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT A YOUNG CHILD. THAT IS SOMEONE'S YOUNG CHILD. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS. ONE OF THE BEST THAT SAYS THESE ARE SOME OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS WE CAN EVER MAKE IN OUR CITY. OUR KIDS AND OUR YOUTH. WE TALK ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT OUR KIDS. THEY ARE SO VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW. WE ARE MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS WITH A LOT OF THE PROGRAMMING, THE AMENDMENTS WE HAVE. I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THAT'S WHY WE WILL WORK WITH EXECUTIVE TO DO A FULL INVENTORY ON THE YOUTH PROGRAMMING FROM OUR CITY TO FIGURE OUT THE INVESTMENTS, WHAT'S NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUR YOUTH THE BEST RESOURCES TO MOVE FORWARD. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU BECAUSE TEAM, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. PEOPLE WANT TO SEE RESULTS, IMPACT, MOVEMENT, BUILDING COMMUNITY. THEY WANT TO SEE TRANSPARENCY AND I WANT TO SEE THINGS WORK. I AM FOCUSED ON THE FUNDAMENTALS. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS BORING, BUT IT'S THE STUFF THAT REALLY MATTERS TO PEOPLE. IT'S THE STUFF THAT MATTERS TO OUR DISTRICT , WHAT I HEARD, SO PEOPLE CAN DO THEIR JOBS, GET TO WORK ON TIME. TRASH GET PICKED UP, POTHOLES FILLED SIDEWALKS CROSSWALKS LIBRARIES OPEN. COMMUNITY CENTERS FUNCTIONING. CLEAN PARKS, SAFE STREETS. THINGS THAT MAKE OUR CITY WORK BETTER. SEATTLE SUCH A GREAT CITY , AND NOW WE ARE ON THE MAIN STAGE TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW PROGRESSIVE CAN WORK, HOW CAN WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS THINGS, HOW WE CAN BUILD THINGS, HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORK FOCUSING ON THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. I APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENTS WE HAVE MADE IN THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER BUSTER, HAVE YOU SPOKEN ALREADY? >> NO, I HAVEN'T. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THIS IS THE NICE THING ABOUT GOING TOWARDS THE END, WHICH IS I GET TO HEAR THE AMAZING WORDS OF MY COLLEAGUES. I HAVE SPARSE REMARKS. I DON'T NEED THEM BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS SPEECH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS GIVEN, THE INSPIRING WORDS OF COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH . COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I THINK THAT THIS -- I HAVEN'T NECESSARILY AGREED. WE'VE HAD INTENSE DEBATES. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WE HAVE COALESCED IN UNIFIED AROUND A BUDGET WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. I THINK IT IS A BUDGET IN WHICH WE HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR RESPECTIVE PASSIONS AND INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE , AND WE HAVE REALLY COMPLEMENTED ONE ANOTHER. THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF THE CITY ARE GOING TO BE BETTER OFF FOR IT. DO WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO? UNDOUBTABLY. I THINK WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. HAVE WE REALLY TRIED TO BE AUTHENTIC AND REAL AND COMMITTED IN THE WORK WE HAVE DONE HERE TODAY ? ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO SAY IMMENSE THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF , I THINK, AN UNPRECEDENTED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE FOR MANY PEOPLES LIVE IN THE CITY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORT FOR SEASONAL SHELTER IN DISTRICT 5. HOUSED IN DISTRICT 5 IT WILL CERTAINLY SERVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY IN THE NORTH END. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT OF $2 MILLION TO FIGHT COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. ALSO, JUST TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE THINGS YOU INDIVIDUALLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING THIS A BETTER CITY FOR ALL. CHAIR STRAUSS, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR RUNNING A COLLABORATIVE AND THOUGHTFUL PROCESS. IT'S BEEN A HARD WORK. ALL OF US ARE PRETTY TIRED AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BEING DONE. I REALLY DON'T -- I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS , YOU KNOW, CONCERNS ABOUT WAS AS TRANSPARENT AS IT COULD'VE BEEN? I THINK IT WAS. I THINK YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB GIVEN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE . WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO. TO LEARN AND IMPROVE. I HAVE FELT WE HAVE ALL BEEN HEARD IN THE PROCESS. AS WE ARE HEARD IT MEANS OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE HEARD. I THINK YOU FOR THAT. AGAIN I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO THIS AND BEING WILLING TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION AND TO THINK ABOUT THINGS AS WE COME AND NOT JUST BE A STAMP AND TO CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER TO BE AS GOOD AS WE CAN BE. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. I WILL -- PARDON ME? >> I HAVEN'T GONE YET. I JUST UNDID MY HAND, SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> OH, OKAY. HAD. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS, IF I MAY. OKAY. I WANT TO START BY SAYING WE ALL KNOW 2024 HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR OUR NEIGHBORS . HOUSING PRICES CONTINUE TO SOAR. WE JUST AREN'T KEEPING PACE AND GROWING HOMELESSNESS AND HAVERHILL HEALTH CRISES HAVE CONTINUED TO MEAN MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY ARE STRUGGLING. I DO WANT TO FIRST THANK CENTRAL STAFF FOR THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY DID THIS YEAR, WORKING LATE INTO THE NIGHT AND WEEKENDS TO GET US HERE . I DO WANT TO THANK MY TEAM, AS WELL. WHO WORKED REALLY HARD ALONGSIDE AND RESPONDING TO BOTH OUR INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE IN THIS BUDGET, PARTICULARLY FOR DISTRICT TO. THE BUDGET DOES INCLUDE MY AMENDMENTS TO FUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AT THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY CENTER. FUNDING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES . FUNDING FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANT SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS, AND FOR BILINGUAL AND BICULTURAL AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS , AS WELL AS SANITATION SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES FOR THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. WE ALSO WORKED HARD TO SECURE INCREASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PROTECT YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND FINALLY WE DIRECTED OUR OFFICE OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO STUDY WAYS TO SUPPORT INCREASED HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO SUPPORT CURRENT HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT TO REDEVELOP THEIR PROPERTIES. I'M THANKFUL WE WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE THOSE THINGS IN THE PACKAGE. WHILE I'M UP -- PROUD OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE, I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT SO MUCH GOOD WORK IN THE CITY LOST SUPPORT IN THIS PROCESS. SEVERAL OF MY ITEMS WERE REMOVED FROM THE CHAIRS PACKAGE AND VOTED DOWN, INCLUDING FUNDING TO CONVENE TENANT AND LANDLORD WORKGROUP . FUNDING FOR ARTS CULTURE PLANNING WORK, AND RESTORATION OF THE WORKFORCE EQUITY DIVISION IN OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED CITY WORKERS FACING WORK LACED DISCRIMINATION AS REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER. BIG PICTURE, THIS BUDGET LAYS OUT 40 POSITIONS IN SIX CITY DEPARTMENTS IN 2025, INCLUDING OUR DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, THE I.T. DEPARTMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES AND PARKS. SEVEN ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO LAYOFF IN 2026. THE TOTAL ONGOING COST SAVINGS FOR LAYING OFF THESE 55 POSITIONS IS APPROXIMATELY $8.8 MILLION. I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN. THE TOTAL ONGOING COST SAVINGS FOR LAYING OFF 55 PEOPLE IS ABOUT A $.8 MILLION, WHICH IS LESS THAN WE WILL BE SPENDING ON POLICE OVERTIME ALONE. DESPITE NUMEROUS EFFORTS WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO PARTIALLY RESTORE TENANT SERVICES. THAT MEANS THIS BUDGET CREATES A DISASTER FOR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FACING EVICTION AND CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL STRESS ON OUR ALREADY DEPLETED SHELTER SYSTEM. ALL YEAR I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE OF OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT . IN FEBRUARY, AFTER WE LEARNED THE BUDGET DEFICIT WAS PROJECTED TO REACH $230 MILLION I PUBLISHED AN OP-ED IN THE TIMES CALLING FOR NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS. WE SHOULD HAVE BEGUN THIS WORK MONTHS AGO . UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DISCUSSION CAME AT "THE 11th HOUR.", LITERALLY, THE LAST WEEK OF OUR 10 WEEK BUDGET CYCLE. I DO APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MOORE BY INTRODUCING HER BILL TO CREATE A CAPITOL GAINS TAX. I WILL SAY ON THE RECORD I DO INTEND TO WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOORE TO REVISIT THAT BILL IF IT DOES NOT PASS TODAY. WE WILL HAVE A NEW COLLEAGUE SWORN IN. I'M HOPING WE HAVE A DIFFERENT BALANCE ON THE COUNCIL. THE TIME FOR NEW REVENUE WAS YESTERDAY. WE DID OUR DEEP DIVE ON THE BUDGET, WHICH WAS DEMONSTRATED -- WHICH HAS DEMONSTRATED THERE ARE NOT ACTUALLY MANY PLACES TO CUT . I THINK MANY OF US HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. URGENT ACTION IS PARAMOUNT TO ADDRESS THE GREAT NEED THAT EXISTS IN THE CITY. I AM FRUSTRATED, BUT WAS NOT SURPRISED THAT BOTH OF MY EFFORTS TO SIMPLY RESEARCH ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS, LIKE PERSONAL -- PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TAX WERE REJECTED, AS WAS MY AMENDMENT TO PRESERVE THE SPENDING PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS. ALONG WITH MY AMENDMENT TO RESTORE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HAVE INSURED ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THIS BUDGET. IN THIS REVENUE SOURCE. ALL OF THIS AT A TIME WHEN, IN JUST TWO YEARS, WE ARE PROJECTED TO HAVE ANOTHER $80 MILLION DEFICIT. NOT ONLY DID WE NOT HAVE A TIMELY DISCUSSION ABOUT NEW REVENUE, IN 2024 PROPOSED HUNDREDS OF MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW SPENDING. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WAS 5% LARGER THAN THE 2024 ADOPTED BUDGET. AT THE GATE THE BUDGET DID NOT REFLECT FISCAL CONSERVATION. AS A COUNCIL WE ADDED 3% ON TOP OF THAT. THE CALLS FOR AUDITS AND EFFICIENCIES AND FIXING AND SPENDING OUT PROBLEM HAVE GIVEN WAY TO LEGISLATION THAT INCREASES , GRAFFITI CLEANUP, ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION. AS KPEDI OVERTIME, CONTRACTING WITH A DISTRIBUTED JAIL AND BRAND-NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR SPD, LIKE THE CLOSE CAPTION TV AND REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER. THEY DON'T REFLECT PRIORITIES FOR ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS. WE NEED BOTH . THIS BUDGET ONLY DELIVERS ON ONE. WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I MUST, FOR THE FIRST TIME, DURING MY TENURE ON COUNCIL, VOTE NO ON BOTH OUR MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET AND OUR -- DESPITE CALLS FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND DATA INFORMED DECISION-MAKING, THIS BUDGET DOES NOT REFLECT SEATTLE'S VALUES OF CARE, FOR PREVENTION, EQUITY, NOR DOES IT REFLECT THE BOLD VISION WE NEED TO CREATE THRIVING HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS FOR OUR SENIORS, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND SMALL BUSINESSES. INSTEAD OF FUNDING PREVENTION AT A REQUEST OF JUST 2 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS IT EXPANDS THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM AT 35 -- $30 MILLION. LIMITS WHO CAN ACCESS TENANT SERVICES, THE NATIONAL RATE THAT WILL DRAMATIC LIMIT . THIS BUDGET GIVES HUGE FUNDING FOR MORE POLICE, CARE TEAM, SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THAT IT CUTS THEIR I.T. SUPPORT BY 25%, WHICH LEAVES THESE VITAL TEAMS WITHOUT THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS. I WILL SAY AFTER THIS WEEK'S MASSIVE POWER OUTAGE WE HAD HUNDREDS OF CALLS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ELEVATOR RESCUE. SPD STAFF EMAILING US SAYING THERE WERE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE I.T. SUPPORT DURING THIS OUTAGE. JUST TO BE CLEAR, IN FUTURE DISASTERS, THAT THE POOR WILL BE DIMINISHED TO OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM. $50,000 HIRING BONUSES AND $10 MILLION OF POLICE OVERTIME, BUT IT CUTS THE OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY OVERTIME BY 67% IN A TIME WHEN THEY ARE INVESTIGATING MANY COMPLAINTS AND ARE IN FACT RECOGNIZED AS A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. THE BOTTOM LINE IS -- TURNED A BLIND EYE AND DEAF EAR TO THE THOUSANDS OF CONSTITUENTS WHO CAME HERE FOR, AT LEAST , 10 HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND HAVE BEEN EMAILING AND CALLING US TO MAINTAIN THE JUMPSTART SPENDING PLAN TO RESTORE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, TO FULLY FUND TENANT SERVICES AND TO PROTECT OUR CITY WORKERS. I CAME INTO OFFICE FIVE YEARS AGO TO REPAIR THE HARM THAT WAS BEING DONE TO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT TWO. TO THE ADVOCATES THAT I'VE WORKED SO HARD , TO PROTECT FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR , THAT SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE , OR THAT COULD HAVE ADDRESSED OUR HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS , I'M SORRY THAT THIS BUDGET WILL CAUSE MORE HARM , AND THAT'S WHY I WILL BE VOTING NO TODAY. >> I AM ACKNOWLEDGING THE RESPONSE IN THE CHAMBERS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, I BELIEVE I AM THE LAST ONE TO SPEAK, BUT PLEASE CORRECT ME IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE. >> CAN I SAY ONE THING? THANK YOU. SORRY. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THINK MY STAFF, AND I DID NOT. I JUST WANTED TO SHELL OUT TO MY INCREDIBLE STAFF TO HANNAH, MELISSA AND HENRY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK AND SUPPORT, THANK YOU TO CENTRAL STAFF, AS WELL AS CBO OFFICE AND MAYOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> JUST CONFIRMING I WILL SPEAK AFTER YOU, IS THAT CORRECT? >> HOWEVER THE SYSTEM WORKS WELL. AS THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET GET THE LAST WORD . THAT WAS IT. >> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> OKAY. I WILL THINK ABOUT WHETHER I'VE FORGOTTEN ANYTHING IN MY COMMENTS, AND PERHAPS ASKED TO ADD WHATEVER I MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN TO SAY. FOR RIGHT NOW, HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY. WHEN THE BUDGET CAME DOWN IN SEPTEMBER, AFTER REVIEWING THE MAYOR'S BUDGET, I SAID I WAS GOING TO ENTER INTO THE DELIBERATION PROCESS BY APPROACHING THE BUDGET THROUGH THE LENS PRIMARILY OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND PRESERVING BASELINE FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE , THE SYSTEM AND EVALUATING WHETHER OR NOT NONPROFIT PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY SERVICES ARE DELIVERING RESULTS. I ALSO LOOKED CLOSELY TO TRACK INVESTMENTS IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND IN TREATMENT AND HOMELESSNESS, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION. THAT'S A BIG BASKET OF PRIORITIES. THAT IS, SORT OF, WELL COLORED MY THINKING, AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS. I AM GLAD TO SAY THIS BUDGET MAKES HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, THIS BUDGET MAKES NO REJECTION, WHATSOEVER, TO THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING. THAT IS INTERESTING TO ME. IN FACT, WE INCREASE THE SPENDING THAT WAS SENT DOWN TO US BY RESTORING THINGS, LIKE, PROSECUTOR POSITIONS AND THE CITY'S ATTORNEY ON OFFICE . FIREFIGHTER APPLICATIONS FASTER. IT ADDS DEDICATED STAFF TO THE 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER FOR IMPROVED NONEMERGENCY LINE RESPONSE. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS. ADD THE POSITION TO PROCESS FIREFIGHTER APPLICATIONS FASTER, AND FUNDS NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AMBASSADORS AMONG MANY MEASURES. I WOULD SAY I THINK THE BULK OF SOME OF THAT MONEY WAS ALLOCATED TO THE CID. WE TOOK THE MAYOR'S BUDGET AND ADDED DIFFERENT FORMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY ITEMS THAT -- THEY HAD BEEN ASKING FOR. THEY CONVINCED US THAT WOULD MAKE THEM FEEL SAFER AS THEY LIVED AND WALKED AND WORKED AND CIRCULATED AROUND OUR CITY. THAT IS INTERESTING. THAT IS ALSO A 180 DEGREES SHIFT FROM TWO YEARS AGO WHEN COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND I ACTUALLY VOTED NO ON THE BUDGET. WHICH IS A BIG DEAL BACK THEN. FOR YEARS, COUNCILMEMBER VOTED NO ON THE BUDGET. IT TOOK A BIG STEP FOR US TO DECIDE TO TAKE A NO VOTE. WE HAD WRITTEN AN OP-ED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES CALLING FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MAYOR'S PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE TOOK A STAND AND VOTED NO. THAT IS NOT THIS BUDGET. THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN THE WAY THIS COUNCIL THINKS ABOUT SOME OF OUR BASIC SERVICES, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY. JUST SOME THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET THAT I AM PLEASED ABOUT , FIRST AND FOREMOST, SEATTLE CHANNEL. WE SAY THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. THE CHAIRS BUDGET. THE CHAIRS BALANCING PACKAGE ALLOWS FOR TWO YEARS OF FUNDING. ONE OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WE WILL BE VOTING ON LATER TODAY AS A BILL I'M PUTTING FORWARD. COUNCIL BILL 120911. DIRECTS THE EXECUTIVE TO ESTABLISH AN ONGOING DEDICATED FUNDING PLAN FOR USING REVENUE SOURCES THAT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 50%, OR 100, 1.7 MILLION OF EXISTING CABLE FUND DOLLARS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, DEPARTMENTAL INDIRECT COST ALLOCATIONS , A SMALL PART OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH WILL ONLY PAY FOR THE COST OF PRODUCING THE COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT ARE PUBLIC. THE WORK GROUP THAT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS COMMITTED TO CONVENING WILL ALSO BRING FORTH THEIR IDEAS. THE POINT IS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR, TWO YEARS TO TWO YEARS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND THE CHANNEL. WE ARE HOPING FOR SOME CERTAINTY. MUCH SOONER THAN THAT. PERHAPS IN THE BEGINNING -- THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. THAT IS SOMETHING I'M VERY PLEASED APP. OTHER THINGS INCLUDE THE MAINTENANCE OF THE STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND. THAT'S A HIGH DEMAND FUND -- GRANT PROGRAM THAT REIMBURSES BUSINESSES FOR HAVING TO REPAIR DAMAGE DUE TO BREAK-INS, ET CETERA. THAT WAS DUE TO SUNSET . WE FOUND THE MONEY. IT WILL BE PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT , PROFFERED BY INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES. GOT SOME SUPPORT . YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM . THAT'S A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM AND THEY'VE NOT HAD CITY SUPPORT IN THE PAST. A COUPLE OF PIECES OF FUNDING FOR, WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE CITY'S GREATEST NEED, WHICH IS TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID AT EPIDEMIC. NOT JUST OPIOID OVERDOSES, BUT ALSO HELPING PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS TOWARDS POTENTIAL LONG-TERM RECOVERY . ON AND ON AND ON. THERE'S ALSO SOME -- ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR GRAFFITI REMOVAL. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ITEMS I'VE HEARD MY CONSTITUENTS ARE MOST INTERESTED IN. I'VE ALSO LEARNED FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AS THEY PUT FORWARD THEIR PRIORITIES. WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THIS IS A LONG LIST OF ITEMS. WE ALL HAVE OUR PRIORITIES. WHAT THIS ENDED UP DOING WAS CREATING ADDITIONAL EXPENSES, IN ADDITION TO THE 76 BUDGET SHORTFALL FOR 2027. I THINK OUR ADDITIONS RAISE THE SHORTFALL IN 2027 TO ABOUT 100. I HAVEN'T SEEN HOW THE LATEST ITEM EDITIONS HAVE IMPACTED THAT. THE POINT IS, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. THAT IS WHY A BIG INTERESTING AND NEW PIECE OF THIS BUDGET IS THE OVER TWO DOZEN STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT, THAT ASK FOR VERY DETAILED INFORMATION FROM DEPARTMENTS SO WE CAN MAKE MORE BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF REDUCTIONS WE MIGHT BE CONSIDERING GOING FORWARD NEXT YEAR. WHILE WE SPEND DOWN THE RESERVES, THIS YEAR, WHAT WE ALSO DID WAS SET OURSELVES UP FOR MAKING REALLY GOOD DETAILED DECISIONS AS WE LOOK AT THESE PROGRAMS, AS WE RECEIVE THE RESPONSES DURING THE YEAR, AND PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE BUDGET AND POTENTIAL CUTS IT THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE GOING FORWARD. THE CRITERIA WE WOULD USE TO DECIDE THAT WAS LOOKING WHETHER OR NOT THE OUTCOMES OF THESE INVESTMENTS ARE REALLY MEETING OUR NEEDS . AND THEN HAVING THE POLITICAL WILL TO POTENTIALLY REALLOCATE THOSE INVESTMENTS. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD THING. I'M SURE IT WAS FRUSTRATING FOR OUR CENTRAL STAFF MEMBERS TO HEAR YET ANOTHER REPORT. I AM SURE THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY WILL HAVE THE TIME TO RESPOND IN DEPTH AND CORRECTLY TO OUR INCREASE. THIS IS WHAT THE OVERSIGHT BODY, WHICH IS COUNCIL, NEEDS TO MAKE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD. ALL GETTING INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME. I WILL SIMPLY CONCLUDE BY SAYING, THIS BUDGET IS IN RESPONSE TO WHAT WE HAVE HEARD OUR CONSENT -- CONSTITUENTS PRIMARY NEEDS. WE ARE A LOT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, MAKING PROGRESS ON HOMELESSNESS. THERE ARE SEVERAL CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE WAY WE CAN APPROACH HOMELESSNESS , NOT JUST AT THE CITY LEVEL, BUT THROUGH OUR WORK WITH -- WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR TAKING SOME RISKS AND ENGAGING IN INNOVATION GOING FORWARD. THAT IS A GOOD THING. ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANNOYING AND DEMANDING DURING THIS PROCESS. I WILL SIMPLY END BY SAYING THE BUDGET PASS TODAY -- I HOPE WILL PASS TODAY, IS RESPONSIVE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS PRIMARY TOP PRIORITIES AND REPRESENTS A SEISMIC SHIFT TOWARDS BUDGETING PRACTICES THAT REALLY GET DOWN INTO THE WEEDS AND SCRUTINIZE EVERY DOLLAR SPENT WHILE ENSURING THE INVESTMENTS AND PRIORITIES THAT KEEP CITIZENS INFORMED, SUCH AS THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, CONTINUE TO THRIVE. I COMMEND MAYOR HARRELL, MY COLLEAGUES. YOU DUG IN. YOU WENT FOR THE ANSWERS. I APPRECIATE THAT. I COMMEND US ALL FOR DOING THE BEST WE COULD IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES , AS WE HAVE TO LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO FINISH THE WORK IN YEARS TO COME WHEN THERE IS STILL A DEFICIT THAT IS STARING US IN THE FACE IN A MERE TWO YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS HAS BEEN AN EDUCATIONAL, AND HOPEFULLY , HOPEFULLY SOME LEVEL FUN PROCESS FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS, FOR LEADING US THROUGH IT. >> THANK YOU. COMMENTS? CHAIR STRAUSS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. HAD A COUPLE NOTES I WAS TAKING I HAD FORGOTTEN IN MY INITIAL ROMANCE. FIRST, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I AM SORRY THAT YOU FEEL THE WAY YOU DO TODAY AND FEEL LIKE YOU CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS BUDGET. I TRIED REALLY HARD AND WORKED REALLY DILIGENTLY TO MEET YOUR REQUESTS THIS YEAR. I'M SORRY YOU'RE PRIORITIES WERE TARGETED IN THE PROCESS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO ONE BY ONE, BUT IN THE STATEMENTS YOU JUST MADE, I DID NOT RAISE A POINT OF ORDER, BUT THERE WERE FACTUAL INACCURACIES, AND WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS POLICY POINTS. WE ARE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION HERE. I JUST WISH THIS COUNCIL HAD TAKEN CARE OF YOU BETTER TO FEEL , LIKE, YOU COULD SUPPORT THIS BUDGET. THE REMARKS I WAS WRITING DOWN WAS ABOUT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, NICE WORK THERE. COUNCILMEMBER WOO, YOU CAME TO US EARLIER THIS YEAR AS THE DAUGHTER OF SEATTLE, AND YOU LEAVE THESE CHAMBERS THIS WEEK AS THE ANTI-OF SEATTLE. INCREDIBLE CHANGE. OUR CITY IS BETTER FOR IT. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A JOKE ABOUT RULES FOR COUNCILMEMBER SPEAKING FOONE IT SEEMS, LIKE THEY ARE OUT OF THE ROOM AT THE MOMENT, SO THERE'S THE JOKE. I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALLIE AND TO KATE HOFFMAN. WITHOUT EITHER OF THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS, THIS PROCESS WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN -- GONE AS SMOOTHLY AS IT DID. COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS, I WILL CONTEND THAT THE PEOPLE OF -- WHO PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT HAVE CHANGED AT THIS BUDGET. THAT WAS EVIDENT IN VOTING FOR ADDITIONAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE HERE ON THE DAIS. IT WAS CHANGED. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO IT AND TAKE DOWN ONE BY ONE, OTHER THAN TO SAY I'VE APPROACHED THIS PROCESS IN A COLLABORATIVE MANNER, TRYING TO REACH CONSENSUS. WHILE I AM NOT A QUAKER, IT IS BASED ON QUAKER VALUES. LASTLY, I WAS GOING TO BRING UP A COMMENT ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WE HAD AT THE FIVE HOUR, MULTIPLE FIVE-HOUR COMMENT PERIODS. WE HAVEN'T HAD AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. IT FELT REALLY GOOD. IT WAS LONG AND STRENUOUS. IT FELT REALLY GOOD TO HEAR EVERYONE'S PERSPECTIVE AND FOR THEM TO BE HERE AND SPEAK TO US. USUALLY IN THOSE MOMENTS I WOULD LOOK FOR A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE CROWD. THE FACE OF JIM HILLIS. JIM PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT OF RECOGNITION FOR JIM , AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE. AND THINK THE PUBLIC AGAIN FOR YOUR INPUT. YOU DID MOVE MY HAND. WITH THAT, A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR JIM. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. >> ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS BEFORE ADOPTING THE BUDGET, AS I SAID EARLIER, YOU -- THIS WAS THE TIME TO MAKE COMMENTS. IF THE CLERK WOULD PLEASE READ THE WALL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL. >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED. >> ALL RIGHT, THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE TITLE INTO THE RECORD? >> CLERK FILE 314539. CITY COUNCIL CHANGES TO THE 2025-2026 PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE 2025-2030 PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. RECOMMENDS IT BE APPROVED. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU . THIS IS THE CLERK FILE THAT TRACKS THE CHANGES THE COUNCIL MADE TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN CIP. THIS IS WHAT WAS FILLED IN OVER THE LAST 48 HOURS. I URGE A YES VOTE. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OTHERWISE I WILL CALL THE BOAT. OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE VOTE? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> ALL RIGHT, THE BILL PASSES, THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL YOU PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF? MOVING ON TO , SCROLLING DOWN, ITEM FIVE. HELP ME OUT HERE. >> AGENDA ITEM FIVE, RESOLUTION 321 53. ENDORSING A BUDGET AND POSITION MODIFICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR 2026. RECOMMENDS IT BE ADOPTED. >> GERMAN STRAUSS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO BE -- TO SPEAK ABOUT IT. >> NEXT YEAR BUDGETING PROCESS -- FOR 2026. BUDGETING NEVER ENDS. HERE'S THE NEXT STEP. THIS YEAR WE BUDGETED FOR THE BIENNIUM FOR 25 AND '26. NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE BUDGETING JUST FOR '26. THIS SETS THE STAGE FOR NEXT YEAR'S WORK. I URGE A YES VOTE. >> OKAY, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BILL? SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES, THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE -- PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. NEXT ITEM , WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD. >> AGENDA ITEM SIX, -- COUNCIL BILL 120911. RELATING TO THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, STATING THE CITY COUNCIL S INTENT TO ESTABLISH DEDICATED AND ONGOING FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL COSTS OF THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, AND REQUESTING THAT THE EXECUTIVE SUBMI3, 2025. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS. >> I WILL ADDRESS THIS BILL EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THE BUDGET CHAIR'S PURVIEW HERE. AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES ALREADY IN DIFFERENT MEETINGS, I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THE CHAIR INCLUDED TWO YEARS OF BRIDGE FUNDING FOR THE SEATTLE CHANNEL INTO THE BALANCING PACKAGE. THIS WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE BULK OF THE FUNDING THAT SEATTLE CHANNEL RECEIVES COMES FROM THE CABLE TV FUND, WHICH IS ON DECLINE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE -- INCREASINGLY PEOPLE ARE ACCESSING THEIR ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS, ET CETERA, FROM STREAMING SERVICES. THIS SOURCE OF REVENUE HAS DECLINED. WE RECEIVED A BUDGET THAT ELIMINATED SIX POSITIONS IN ALL BUT THE COVERAGE OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT ARE, FIRST OF ALL, REQUIRED, AND COVERING THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW. THAT WOULD MEAN WE NEED -- TO THE PUBLIC. ALL THE LAR AMONG DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES IN OUR CITY. I TELL YOU , IT CREATED A BIT OF AN UPROAR. THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF A PROCESS TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN , IN THE SHORT TERM, ESTABLISH CERTAINTY THERE WILL BE MONEY THROUGH 2026 FOR ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT HAD BEEN WARNED THEY WOULD BE LET GO . ALSO, THINK ABOUT LONG-TERM PLAN. WE REALLY DO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AT THEIR FIRST APPLIED FUNDING STREAM GOING FORWARD SO WE ARE LESS RELIANT ON THE CABLE FUND FEE, AND WE CAN ALSO THINK ABOUT OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING . LEGISLATION I HAVE PUT FORWARD HIS COUNCIL BILL 120911 , DIRECTS THE EXECUTIVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN BY MID-2025 THAT WILL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENTED IN 2026. THE BACK IS THE FACT THAT THERE IS BRIDGE FUNDING THROUGH 2026, AS WELL. THE POINT IS, WE WANT TO ESTABLISH A DIVERSIFIED MIX THAT MAKES UP A FUNDING STREAM THAT WILL BE STABLE , ONGOING, AND DOES NOT CREATE ANY DOUBT IN OUR PUBLIC'S MIND OR THE TALENTS OF PEOPLE THAT PUT ON THE SHOWS AT THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, AND THE EMPLOYEES THAT -- THROUGH THEIR SKILL AND BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS PUT ALL THESE PROGRAMMING ZONE ALL THE TIME 24/7. THIS IS AN ASSET THAT IS EXTERNALLY FACING, CONSIDERED A PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND IT IS CLEAR WHERE OUR PUBLIC WANTS TO GO MAKING SURE THIS HAS A STABLE BASE GOING FORWARD. THAT'S WHAT THIS LEGISLATIVE -- THIS LEGISLATION DOES. ALSO INCORPORATES A TIMELINE SO THE WORKGROUP THAT IS GOING TO BE SET UP PER THE SLIDE PUT FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO , OR INFORMED THE FINAL FUNDING PLAN THAT IS EVENTUALLY DECIDED UPON BY THE EXECUTIVE. WE HAVE EVERYTHING ZIPPED UP IN TIME FOR 2026 AND BEYOND. THAT IS WHAT I'M ASKING HER SUPPORT FOR. THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120911? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. THE MEASURE PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE AFFIX MY LEGISLATE SURE -- MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. ALL RIGHT. WHAT IS THE NEXT ITEM TO READ FORWARD? >> AGENDA ITEM SEVEN. COUNCIL BILL 120908. IMPOSING AN EXCISE TAX ON THE SALE OR EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN CAPITAL ASSETS IN SEATTLE, ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 5.66 TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADDING A NEW SECTION 5.45.050 TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS DO NOT PASS. AN ABSTENTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> ALL RIGHT. AS THIS IS A PIECE OF BUDGET LEGISLATION, -- YES, I DO. I WILL READ WHAT YOU JUST SAID. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED DO NOT PASS. THE QUESTION BEFORE IS IF THE BILL SHOULD PASS. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE SPONSORED THE BILL, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO READ THE REPORTS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I AM NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS. I HAVE READ THE ROOM. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, I THINK, THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE . I WILL ADDRESS THE FIRST ARGUMENT THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED THAT THIS SOMEHOW VIOLATES -- THAT'S JUST A RIGHT-WING MISINFORMATION TALKING POINT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO IT ANY FURTHER THAN THAT. WE HAVE PLENTY OF INFORMATION TO MAKE THE DECISION ON THIS BILL. THIS BILL MARRIES ABSOLUTELY THE STATE BILL. ALL OF US, INDIVIDUALLY, READ OUR VOTERS PAMPHLETS A YEAR OR TWO AGO WHEN WE VOTED INDIVIDUALLY, WHETHER TO SUPPORT A CAPITOL GAINS TAX ON THE STATE LEVEL. WE HOPEFULLY READ OUR VOTERS PAMPHLETS WHEN WE HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THE INITIATIVE TO REPEAL IT. WHAT I WILL NOTICE THAT 64% OF STATE VOTERS REJECTED. THEY VOTED TO AFFIRM THE STATE CAPITOL GAINS TAX . 85% OF SEATTLE VOTERS VOTED TO AFFIRM THE STATE CAPITOL GAINS TAX . THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST WELL VETTED SUPPLEMENTAL EXCISE TAXES AVAILABLE TO THE CITY AND TO THE STATES. IT HAS SURVIVED LEGAL CHALLENGE IN THE COURTS, IT SURVIVED AN INITIATIVE CHALLENGE. THE CITY BILL MARRIES IT EXACTLY. THE ONLY TWO DIFFERENCES ARE, A, IT APPLIES ONLY IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AND B, IT'S A 2% TAX. I THINK WE HAVE -- I DISAGREE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD ADOPT THIS TAX. I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD -- I PUT TOGETHER A PARTICULAR SPEND PLAN BECAUSE I DID UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF SOME VOTERS THAT THEY FEEL, LIKE, WE APPROVE THIS MONEY AND THEN IT GOES INTO A BIG BLACK HOLE. I WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THAT AND ALSO TO LOOK AT THIS AS NOT TO -- THIS EXCISE TAX IS NEVER GOING TO RAISE THE KIND OF REVENUE THE JUMPSTART PACKS, PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX WILL RAISE. BUT IT WILL RAISE , AT A MINIMUM, 15 MILLION, AND IT CAN RAISE UP TO 62. I HAVE ALWAYS VIEWED IT AS A SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCE , NOT AN ENTIRELY -- NOT AN ENTIRE REPLACEMENT. I THINK AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES MET POINTED OUT , IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO BEGIN LOOKING AT SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCES. WE CANNOT PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. TO THE SPEND PLAN, MY THINKING WAS, WE DID TAKE A DEEP DIVE, IN A WAY WE REALLY, I DON'T THINK, PRIOR COUNCILS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ON BUDGET. WE DID MAKE SOME CUTS . THERE WAS JUST A LOT THAT WE -- THERE WASN'T A LOT TO COVER, AND THERE WAS A LOT WE WERE NOT COMFORTABLE CUTTING. WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED MORE REVENUE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE , AND TO MEET THE NEEDS AND GROWING NEEDS THE CITY IS GOING TO ENCOUNTER, PARTICULARLY WITH,-, LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDING. THE AREAS WHERE , I THINK, WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED. WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED FOR $500. WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED FOR $6000. WE ALSO NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO OWN THEIR HOMES. BEING ABLE TO HAVING A BROADER HOMEOWNERSHIP BASE CREATES A MORE STABLE SOCIETY . WE'VE LOST OUR MIDDLE CLASS IN THE CITY , AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE NEED TO REBUILD OUR MIDDLE CLASS. WE NEED TO MOVE PEOPLE UP FROM THE LOWER ECONOMIC ECHELONS TO AT LEAST A MIDDLE-CLASS LIVELIHOOD. IF WE DO THAT, WE ARE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR TAX BASE, WHICH, TO COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH FOR MY POINT, WE CAN'T JUST CONTINUE TO -- WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER WAYS. WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS A CITY THAT IS WELCOMING TO SMALL BUSINESSES , AS WELL AS LARGE BUSINESSES. WE'VE BEEN PRETTY WELCOMING TO LARGE. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH SMALL. ALSO ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ABLE TO OWN THEIR HOMES. WE WERE ABLE , THIS COUNCIL, RESTORED FUNDING TO THE HOMEOWNERSHIP CAPITOL PROGRAM . THAT WAS A GOOD THING WE DID. WE EXPRESSED OUR COMMITMENT TO INCREASING HOMEOWNERSHIP. THE SPEND PLAN I PUT FORTH FOR THIS EXCISE TAX WOULD -- DOWN PAYMENT. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO LOOK AT WAS INCREASING FOOD SECURITY, WHICH COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR IS A CRISIS IN THE CITY. THOSE ARE THREE AREAS IN WHICH WE CAN TARGET , AND STRATEGICALLY DIRECT FUNDING, AND WE CAN REALLY KEEP TRACK OF IT. WHERE WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY ARE DOING IT EFFICIENTLY , AND THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT ARE GETTING IT. THAT WAS THE THINKING I HAD BEHIND THE SPEND PLAN. THERE WERE COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES THAT, PERHAPS, WE NEEDED TO EXPANDED TO INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE OR OTHER AREAS. ABSOLUTELY. I DON'T DISAGREE THAT IS A LEGITIMATE AREA OF TOPIC, INQUIRY AND COMMITTEE -- COMMITTEE WORK. THAT IS THE SECOND BILL . THAT'S NOT THE FIRST BILL. TO ME THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW THE LOCAL EXCISE TAX WILL WORK. IT WILL WORK EXACTLY THE WAY THE STATE EXCISE TAX WORKS. THE STATE WILL COLLECT THE TAX FOR US. THAT'S WHY IT IS MARRIED. IT HAS SOME ODD PROVISIONS, LIKE, IT EXEMPTS SALE OF LIVESTOCK AND SALMON. THINGS THAT AREN'T PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE -- HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THE OTHER THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO BE MINDFUL OF IS EXACTLY WHO WILL PAY THIS TAX? POTENTIALLY UP TO 800 AND 16 PEOPLE , POTENTIALLY. OUT OF MORE THAN . WHO WILL PAY THE TAX? IT'S AN EXCISE TAX ON PASSIVE INCOME. IT'S AN EXCISE TAX ON INVESTMENT SALE PROFITS. IT'S NOT AN INCOME TAX . WE ARE NOT TAXING YOUR WAGES, YOUR EARNINGS, YOUR HARD WORK. WE ARE TAXING , AS WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO, AND EXCISE TAX, AS THE WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT HAS MADE VERY CLEAR, WE ARE TAXING ARTWORK YOUR MONEY DOES IN THE STOCK MARKET. WE ARE TAXING THE HARD WORK YOUR MONEY DOES IN THE BOND MARKET. AND WE ARE SAYING YOU NEED IT -- IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN $262,000 IN PROFITS , I WOULD SAY, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION IN PROFITS, OVER THE WORK THAT YOUR INVESTMENT HAS DONE , WE WOULD LIKE TO PERCENT OF THAT, PLEASE , TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED TO STAY HOUSED . TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE FED . TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET INTO THEIR OWN HOME. LET US JUST TAKE A LITTLE MATHEMATICAL EXAMPLE . LET'S SAY THAT JEFF BUYS $250,000 WORTH OF STOCK , AND JEFF HAS A MIDAS TOUCH, AND HE SELLS HIS STOCK FOR MILLION DOLLARS. HE MAKES A $750,000 PROFIT. UNDER THE PROPOSAL, UNDER THE STATE LAW, AND WHAT I'M PROPOSING FOR THE CITY LAW, HE WOULD THEN GET TO DEDUCT $262,000 , WHICH WOULD MEAN HE HAD A TAXABLE GAIN CONSISTS OF $488,000. HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY 2%. HE WOULD PAY $9760 . AFTER THAT HE WOULD HAVE 478,000 AND CHANGE IN HIS POCKET , PLUS THE 262,000 DEDUCTION . AT THE END OF THE DAY HE WOULD HAVE 740,000 PLUS. HE WOULD HAVE PAID LESS THAN $10,000 ON A $750,000 PROFITS. I DON'T THINK IT IS TOO MUCH TO ASK SOMEBODY WHO MAKES $750,000 PROFIT ON THEIR MONEY TO PAY 9700 TOWARDS A SOCIAL SAFETY NET OF THE CITY. WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT SAY, OH MY GOSH, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. $50,000 OF STOCK THAT WAS LEFT TO ME BY MY GRANDMOTHER. NOW I NEED TO SELL IT'S BECAUSE I WANT TO START A SMALL BUSINESS. OR I NEED A DOWN PAYMENT FOR A HOUSE. THEY SELL IT, THEY MAKE $100,000. THEY BASICALLY HAVE A $50,000 PROFIT BECAUSE THEY PUT IN 50, SOLD IT FOR 100, THEY HAVE A $50,000 PROFITS. WHAT HAPPENS? THEY TAKE THE DEDUCTION. THE $262,000 DEDUCTION . THAT MEANS THERE IS ZERO EXCISE TAX OWED . THEY WILL OWE NOTHING TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE UNDER THIS PARTICULAR PLAN . WE ARE NOT GOING AFTER THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF STOCK, LEFT BY THEIR PARENTS OR GRANDMOTHER OR THEY TRY TO CASH IT IN SO THEY CAN START THEIR SMALL BUSINESS, OR THEY CAN GET INTO THEIR OWN HOME, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY WITH THEIR STOCKS AND BONDS. THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO THE SALE OF REAL ESTATE, IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE SALE OF SMALL BUSINESSES. IT DOES ON THE -- APPLY TO RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS. ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN DEALT WITH BY THE STATE. I APPRECIATE THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD. I APPRECIATE WE HAVE , PERHAPS, PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES. I APPRECIATE THAT SOME PEOPLE NEED MORE TIME. ABSOLUTELY FINE. MY POSITION IS, THE TIME IS NOW. EVERY DAY WE WAIT MEANS IT'S LESS TIME WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY TRACK , COLLECT, AND THEN BE IN A POSITION TO ALLOCATE THE DOLLARS IN 2027 WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT A $300 MILLION DEFICIT IF WE DON'T CONTINUE TO USE THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX TO FILL THAT GAP. AND WE CAN WORK ON THE SPEND PLAN. WE CAN PASS THE TAX TODAY. WE CAN SPEND THE NEXT TWO YEARS , WHILE WE ARE TRACKING, LET -- COLLECTING, WORKING ON THE SPEND PLAN WE ALL FEEL GOOD ABOUT. OR WE CAN KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ANOTHER YEAR. ANOTHER SIX MONTHS. ANOTHER YEAR. THEN WE ARE LOOKING AT NOT HAVING ANY MONEY TO HELP AS A SUPPLEMENT UNTIL 2028. I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. I REALIZE THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT IS MAKING -- IT'S AN UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION. I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE WE DIDN'T AND -- INTRODUCE THIS CONVERSATION UNTIL EARLIER. PART OF THE REASON IS BECAUSE, FRANKLY, WAS WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE LEVEL. BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON , AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE THOUGHT. THEY TOLD US IN RESOUNDING LANGUAGE WHAT THEY THOUGHT. WE ALSO KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE INCOME TAX BECAUSE OF WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATION TO. THAT'S FINE, THEY CAN DO THAT. WE ALSO HAVE TO CALL A QUESTION, WE DON'T HAVE SOME UNICORN REVENUE IT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO US THAT WE CAN JUST KEEP WAITING FOR THE MAGICAL DAY THAT THIS ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS GOING TO SUDDENLY BE FOUND, OR SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TELL US IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO LEGAL CHALLENGE , OR WHATEVER. EVEN IF THIS WAS PASSED, HE MOST LIKELY WOULD BE CHALLENGED . BOY, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR MONEY, EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T LEARN IT. EVEN WHEN IT'S JUST STOCK MARKET THAT RUNS IT . THAT'S FINE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. IT ALSO MEANS WE CAN BE WORKING ON GETTING THE SPEND PLAN IN PLACE WHILE THAT IS PROCEEDING. IF WE WAIT, THEN THAT JUST FURTHER PUSHES IT DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP. THE SAME ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE, THIS WILL PUSH BUSINESSES OUT OF THE CITY, RICH PEOPLE WILL LEAVE, THE SKY WILL FALL. THEY WILL EXACT SAME ARGUMENTS. GEMSTAR IS SAVING OUR, YOU KNOW WHAT. WHICH IS GOOD. I AM VERY, VERY GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO FINANCE AND SUPPORT THIS AMAZING CITY . THANK GOD. THANK GOD FOR THE COURAGE AND FORESIGHT OF THE FORMER COUNCILS WHO TAKE A LOTS OF FLOCK, AND RIGHTLY SO, IN MY OPINION, PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY DID THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT CAME TO REVENUE. WE WOULD BE -- WHERE WOULD WE BE? WE NEED TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. WE NEED TO SAY WE NEED TO SHUT DOWN THOSE ARGUMENTS. WE LOST A FEW PEOPLE, SURE. WE ALSO LOST PEOPLE BECAUSE OF COVID AND BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE WAY PEOPLE WORK. JEFF BEZOS WENT OFF TO FLORIDA. THANK YOU, JEFF. FLORIDA LOVES HAVING YOU THERE. YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PAY $2000 OR, GOD FORBID , $9700 ON A -- WHAT DID I SAY? $750,000 PROFITS. IF THEY DO, OH WELL. SEATTLE IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE. THERE SO MUCH TO OFFER ON -- IN THE CITY. PART OF THE REASON WE ARE IN THIS DEFICIT IS BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO CLAW BACK OUT OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS. TO ME, IT'S MORE LIKELY WE ARE GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY. IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR AND DEDICATED THAT ITS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY. WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND AND MAKE THE FUNDING MY WAY , BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FUND IT, AND WE CANNOT LET THE OTHER THINGS SLIP. TO MY COLLEAGUES, I APPRECIATE THAT WE CAN HAVE A DISK -- DISAGREEMENT AND PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BE HONEST ABOUT THAT . IF IT DOESN'T PASS TODAY , OKAY. I WILL BE BACK. WITH COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. I WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE CAN -- CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT HAVE. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS MY LAST BOAT. MY HUSBAND WORKS AS A STOCK TRADER FOR EVERGREEN FINANCIAL SERVICES, MANAGING PORTFOLIOS FOR ITS CLIENTS. SO MANY FAMILIES THEY BOTH HOLD DOWN FULL-TIME JOBS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP OUR FAMILY RESTAURANT GOING. I'VE CONSULTED WITH WAYNE, HE SAYS I'M ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THIS TAX DOES NOT IMPACT MY HUSBAND SALARY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS ABOVE BOARD. I APPRECIATE THE PROCESS AND ENSURE ITS INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THIS INTERESTING TIDBIT. WE'VE GONE A NUMBER OF EMAILS , AS OF 1:45 P.M. TODAY, I RECEIVED 122 EMAILS. OF THOSE, 28, 23%, ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS TAX. THE REMAINING 95, 77% ARE AGAINST IT. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THOSE OF THE VOICES I'M HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS. LET ME BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT I'M GOING TO VOTE. FOR ME THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE TOXIC SELF. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA AND I PERSONALLY SUPPORT IT. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE PROCESS. WE CANNOT RUSH SOMETHING THIS THROUGH THE BUDGET SEASON. THIS DESERVES TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, PUBLIC INPUT AND OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT. STAKEHOLDERS, COMMITTEE, FULL DISCUSSION THERE. ONLY THEN TO BRING IT BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL LIKE WE DO WITH ALL LEGISLATION. I APPRECIATE THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE PLANNING TO DO. I AGREE WITH YOU THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE. THE ONLY WAY TO ADDRESS IS BY TAKING OUR TIME OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY WORK, THE DETAILS, MAKE SURE THE BILL IS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SHAPE AND BEST POSSIBLE PLACE. THAT'S HOW WE ENSURE ITS GOOD POLICY BUT TRUSTED POLICY. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE ELSE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH HAS RAISED HER HAND. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH HAS RAISED HER HAND. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR BRINGING THIS UP. AS YOU KNOW. I WANT TO MAKE THIS FOR THE RECORD, I DID VOTE FOR IT IN COMMITTEE. IT WAS RECOMMENDED NOT TO PASS. THEREFORE I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO TODAY BECAUSE OF THE RECOMMENDATION. >> POINT OF ORDER. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WONDER IF WE CAN TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS? THANK YOU. >> IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION. >> NO OBJECTION, THANK YOU. >> I'M GOING TO OBJECT WITH ANYONE. IF WE CAN BE AT EASE. >> WE CAN BE AT EASE IF WE STAY IN THE CHAMBERS, YES. AS LONG AS WE NEED TO. THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT CAN CALL US OUT OF THESE WHEN THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS READY. >> IS THERE A REASON YOU PREFER AND EASE RATHER THAN A RECESS? >> IT'S JUST EASIER. OTHERWISE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE AND GO BACK TO OUR OFFICES IF WE ARE A RECESS. IF WE ARE AT EASE WE CAN ALL STAY HERE. >> I MY OVERRIDE BECAUSE I AM GOING TO HAVE A WONDER IN MY OFFICE. I WOULD PREFER A RECESS FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. >> IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION. THANK YOU . RECESS UNTIL 2:55, THANK YOU. >> IS 5:05. CAN WE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BACK TOGETHER. >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] >> NINE PRESENT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN AND FOR THE BREAK . TODAY BEEN A LONG DAY AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT GOING ON THIS PAST WEEK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. IT'S BEEN EXHAUSTING, AS I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE. THAT SAID, I AM READY TO COMPLETE TODAY'S MEETING. SO LET'S PROCEED. I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH WAS STILL MAKING SOME POINT. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR TALKING POINTS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WILL REPEAT WHAT I SAID. I SUPPORTED THIS IN COMMITTEE. BUT IT WAS RECOMMENDED NOT TO PASS. TODAY, I WILL BE VOTING, NO AGAINST THIS. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE AND HAVING THE CONVERSATION. AS YOU SO ELOQUENTLY HAVE SPOKEN TODAY, ABOUT THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE FOR OUR BUDGET AND REVENUE, I DO WANT TO STRESS , WHICH YOU HAVE POINTED OUT, OUR CITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH AND CUT THE RED TAPE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR US TO HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES, BIG BUSINESSES, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF REVENUE GROWTH. AND OBVIOUSLY, OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP PIECE AS WELL. WE COULD ALSO EXPLORE DIFFERENT REVENUE THINGS. I THINK IT'S NOT AN EITHER OR, IT IS AND FOR ME. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. I WILL REPEAT A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT I SAID LAST TIME ON TUESDAY WHEN I SPOKE TO THIS. WE WERE INFORMED ABOUT THE VOLATILITY AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE CAP GAINS TAX BY THE REVENUE FORECASTED BY OUR CENTRAL STAFF. PART OF MY REASON FOR NOT DRAIN THAT COPING FOR INSTITUTING A CAPITAL GAINS TAX IS THE FACT THAT IT'S UNPREDICTABLE. AND THE RANGE OF REVENUE THAT COULD BE GENERATED RANGES FROM $16-$51 MILLION. THAT IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY TO PLAN OUR INVESTMENTS AROUND. I WANT TO NOTE THE INVESTMENTS ON THE TABLE , RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE ARE EXTREMELY WORTHY GOALS FOR CITY SUPPORTS. SO I OFFER NO DISPARAGEMENT ABOUT THOSE PRIORITIES. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOD BETTER CERTAINTY ON THE RANGE OF REVENUE THAT COULD BE COLLECTED. I ALSO THINK IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE. NOT NECESSARILY IRRESPONSIBLE -- NOT A NEGATIVE. WE SHOULD HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE WILL FRAME A NEW TAX GOING FORWARD, AND WHAT IT WOULD PAY FOR. THAT HELPS OUR CONSTITUENTS CONTRIBUTE THEIR BUY INTO THE IDEA THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD . THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX. THE BIGGER POINT I HAVE MADE IN OTHER VENUES, WHEN WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT RESOURCES, WE INSTITUTED THE PAYROLL TAX IN 2020, WHICH WAS THE LARGEST CITY TAX BUT DID NOT GO TO THE VOTERS IN SEATTLE HISTORY. -- BEFORE THE CHECKS EVEN BEGAN TO ROLL IN FROM THE BUSINESSES, AND THE BEGINNING OF 2022, COUNSEL PUT FORWARD A STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT CALLING FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW REVENUE -- PROGRESSIVE REVENUE WORKSHOP GROUP TWO LOOKS AT ADDITIONAL FUNDS OF REVENUE TO PAY FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRIORITIES. PARTLY BECAUSE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT CAME IN FUNDED SOME COVID RELIEF WERE USED TO DEVISE EXPENSES THAT WERE ONGOING. AND SO THIS IS THE TENDENCY I AM SEEKING TO SHOW THAT WE CAN RISE ABOVE AND MEET. WE CAN JUDICIOUSLY IDENTIFY THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND VULNERABILITIES IN OUR POPULATION THAT WE WANT TO HELP AMELIORATE. AND DO SO WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE THAT IS THE SORT OF THING, THAT IS WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO SEE FROM THEIR ELECTEDS. THE ABILITY TO USE THE RESOURCES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO HELP THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE. AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO BUILD BACK PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT BEFORE WE SEEK ANOTHER FORM OF PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. THOSE ARE THE REASONS I VOTED AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. AND THE REASON I WOULD DO SO AGAIN TODAY. THANK YOU. >> GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, AGAIN, I WILL THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I THINK SHE DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF DISPELLING THE MYTHS AROUND WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THIS TAX WOULD BE. JUMPSTART IS ALSO VOLATILE. IN FACT, YOUR PAY INTO THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX THEN WOULD PAY INTO THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX. WE HAVE ONLY ABOUT 100 COMPANIES THAT PAY. AND REALLY ONLY 10 THAT CONTRIBUTE THE BULK OF THAT REVENUE. BUT WE HAVE OVER 54,000 MILLIONAIRES JUST IN SEATTLE. SO WHILE IT MAY ALSO BE SOMEWHAT VOLATILE, AND MAY NOT RAISE JUST AS MUCH AS PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX, CAPITAL GAINS TAX COULD BRING IN SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE THAT COULD HELP STABILIZE AND DIVERSIFY OUR REVENUE SOURCES AND ALLOW US TO HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF GOVERNMENT. THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS IF THE ARGUMENT IS WE SHOULD BE WAITING AND DEMONSTRATE OUR ABILITY TO SHOW RESTRAINT, THAT WAS OUR OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WE WERE GOING TO DECREASE OUR EXPENSES. IDENTIFY WHAT WE WERE GOING TO CUT. SHOW THE KIND OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES RAN ON LAST YEAR, THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. WE ACTUALLY SPENT MORE THAN EVEN THE MAYOR PROPOSED IN HIS BUDGET. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS JUST A RED HERRING, AND I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING AWAY. IN FACT, IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IF WE DO NOT START GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT HOW WE WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL. AND I THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR BRINGING IT . >> I AM LOOKING AROUND FOR OTHER HANDS. WITH ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE MORE COMMENTS? PLEASE CALL THE VOTE ON THE BILL. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE BOAT HERE IS WHETHER THE BILL SHOULD PASS. A YES WOULD BE IN FAVOR. TO VOTE NO WOULD BE IN OPPOSITION. >> COUNCILMEMBER WILL? >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> NOW. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. >> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> THREE IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED. >> THE MOTION FAILS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. >> IDENTIFIED EIGHT ESTABLISHING A SPENDING PLAN FOR PROPOSED USE -- FROM CAPITAL GAINS [ INAUDIBLE ] THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS YOU DON'T PASS [ INAUDIBLE ] . >> ALL RIGHT. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVED COUNSEL BILL 12909. >> SECOND . >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE SPONSORED THE BILL. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL REMARKS, THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BILL? >> WE ARE GOOD. >> I AM SEEING NO DESIRE TO SPEAK. THAT GIVEN THE CASE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL. >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] TWO IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED. >> ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION FAILS. [ INAUDIBLE ] THE MOTION FAILS. THERE WERE NO ITEMS MOVED TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE? NOT SEEING ANY, -- >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL PIECE OF BUSINESS. I WANTED TO NOTE THIS IS THE LAST COUNSEL -- COUNCIL MEETING FOR OUR COLLEAGUE. I WANTED TO KNOW THAT WITH A BRIEF STATEMENT. >> PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> COLLEAGUE, BUT SPECIFICALLY COUNCILMEMBER WOO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THIS COUNSEL. AND I AM PROUD TO HAVE NOMINATED YOU, AND TO VOTE FOR YOU. MY NOMINATION WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK REPRESENTING YOUR COMMUNITY . BEING A COMMUNITY LEADER, CIVIC VOLUNTEER, AND DOING SO EVEN WHEN IT MET BE BACK -- BANG YOUR HEAD AGAINST CITY HALL'S WALL, AND THE COUNTIES TOO. THIS PERSPECTIVE IS SO IMPORTANT, SO NEEDED, AND WHY I NOMINATED YOU EARLIER THIS YEAR. I SHOULD SAY THAT WAS THE REASON -- IN THE NAVY, IN THESE KINDS OF TIMES AND FAREWELLS, WE HAVE A SAYING , FAIRWINDS -- SEES. COUNCIL BRIEFING NOTWITHSTANDING, I WANTED TO WISH YOU FAIRWINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS. >> ANYBODY ELSE? >> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, FOR RAISING THIS. I TOO ON THE RECORD, AND WITH ALL OF YOU HERE WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER WOO FOR HER SERVICE TO OUR CITY. IN THIS CAPACITY. BECAUSE YOU HAVE SERVICED OUR CITY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IT THIS YEAR. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED YOUR SERVICE ON THIS COUNCIL . I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IN THE CID. AND NOT JUST IN THE CID. I KNOW YOU ARE NOW DOING WORK ACROSS THE CITY. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND LIKE I SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED WORK TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE FINAL NOTE THAT I DID NOT SAY EARLIER TODAY. YOU FIRST CAME TO MY ATTENTION, COUNCILMEMBER WOO, WHEN YOU PACKED THESE CHAMBERS WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BUT PRIMARILY ELDERLY PEOPLE. I THINK THEY WERE WHEN REDSHIRTS. THEY WALK FROM THE CID TO PACK THE CHAMBERS AND TALK ABOUT SAFETY -- IT WAS BEFORE US. I WAS IMPRESSED THAT SOMEONE ABLE TO FILL THOSE CHAIRS AND SHOW HOW IMPORTANT THE COMMUNITY FELT ABOUT -- AND YOU HAVE DONE THAT AGAIN RECENTLY JOINED YOUR CAMPAIGN WHEN YOU HAD A PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM IN THE CID. THAT PLACE WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY. IT WAS CLEAR. THAT WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO YOUR ABILITY TO TAP INTO WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY LOVES, AND THEN TRANSLATED TO THE EARS OF POLICYMAKERS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WAS MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOU. AND I WILL MISS THAT WORK IN THAT CAPACITY HERE. PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER WOO, I KNEW YOUR HUSBAND BEFORE I KNEW YOU. I KNOW THAT MIGHT SOUND WEIRD. NO. HE WAS A BASKETBALL REFEREE, STILL IS. RANDY IS A GREAT BASKETBALL REFEREE THROUGHOUT SEATTLE, VERY WELL-RESPECTED. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU STEPPED UP FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU ALWAYS HOLD TRUE TO YOUR VALUES AND WHO YOU ARE. I COULD NOT BE MORE HONORED AND JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME TOGETHER HERE ON COUNCIL. AND I KNOW YOU WILL GO ON TO DO PHENOMENAL THINGS. I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THE CID AND THAT COMMUNITY. I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE STRENGTH THAT YOU HAVE PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY BEING IN THIS CHAIR. I APPRECIATE HOW YOU BROUGHT GRACE, HOW YOU BROUGHT ELEGANCE, HOW YOU BROUGHT HONOR. HOW YOU REALLY SERVE THE CID VERY, VERY WELL. I AM JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, WHO ARE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. SO, THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. +1, COUNCILMEMBER WOO. I WANT TO PILON FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND SHARE MY PRAISE AND EXPRESS MY ENDLESS GRATITUDE FOR YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE . SERVING WITH PRIDE, DISTINCTION AND HONOR. THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE -- MAKE NO MISTAKE, YOU ARE CHAMPION FOR ALL ISSUES IMPACTING THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. IT'S NOT LIMITED TO THAT, EITHER. USURPED HONORABLY AS A REPRESENTATIVE CITYWIDE FOR ALL PEOPLE. REPRESENTATION DOES MATTER. OUR CITY WAS SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS AN ASIAN WOMAN . AND THE VOICE AND PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU REPRESENT. OUR CITY IS BETTER FOR THAT. TO ALL THE PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, IN PARTICULAR, THE API COMMUNITY, WHO MIGHT FEEL A SENSE OF LOSS. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I , AND I HOPE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HERE INTENDED TO HELP PICK UP THE MANTLE. MAKE SURE THAT WE CARE FOR YOUR TERRIFIC WORK IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THIS IS A SAD MOMENT. BITTERSWEET MOMENT. YOU'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HERE AT THIS DAY US. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE. BEING UP HERE IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE. YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT. I KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF HAVE THAT SO WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN THESE HALLS OF CITY HALL, I KNOW YOU ARE CURRENTLY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, A STRONG LEADER SERVING ALL PEOPLE AND ALL COMMUNITIES. I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU TOGETHER ON SO MANY THINGS GOING FORWARD. I VALUE YOUR FRIENDSHIP. I VALUE YOUR COLLABORATION. I VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK. AND I AM JUST GRATEFUL FOR YOU. HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAST THEIR -- WITH THE FINAL VOTE? THE FIRST BALLOT THING? I DON'T KNOW. I JUST APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. NOT GOODBYE, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. YOU ARE HERE. I LOOK FORWARD TO, AGAIN, CONTINUING TO PARTNER TOGETHER ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. AND THE CHEERING YOU ON AND SUPPORTING YOU AND UPLIFTING YOU AND HELP YOU OUT IN ANY WAY I CAN GOING FORWARD. BY THE WAY, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A COUNCILMEMBER. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A COUNCILMEMBER. NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU. YOU HAVE EARNED YOUR TIME HERE. LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, NOW YOU HAVE ADDED BENEFIT BECAUSE YOU WERE A COMP THAT SO COUNCILMEMBER, WE GIVE YOU PRIVILEGE ANYTIME YOU WANT TO TESTIFY, YOU GET PRIORITY. KUDOS, COUNCILMEMBER WOO. YOUR LEGACY WILL LIVE ON. AND WILL PARTNER TOGETHER TO ENSURE AS MUCH. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN ME, AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND COLLABORATION. I WILL TREASURE THAT FOREVER. IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL HAVE DONE FOR ME, AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE COMMUNITIES I WORK WITH THE HAVE A VOICE ON THE COUNCIL. AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO. THIS WORK IS NOT DONE YET. YOU WILL BE SEEING ME HERE IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. I STARTED OFF AS A A GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE AND WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL MISS SEEING YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE AMAZING THINGS YOU ALL WILL DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> [ APPLAUSE ] >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BODY? >> NO FURTHER BUSINESS. I WILL NOTE THAT WE ARE CANCELING THE TUESDAY MEETING NEXT TUESDAY. WE ARE HAVING A BRIEFING MONDAY. WE WILL HEAR FROM OIR AND THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA . ARDENTLY? I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WHAT IS COMING UP. WE ARE ADIT IS 5.26. >> THANK YOU. >> YES. CONGRATULATIONS TO US ALL.