OF THE COUNCIL. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> HERE. >> CON SILL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> HERE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> PRESENT. IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION PUBLIC COMMENT AT TODAY'S SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES THEY'RE SUSPENDED AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS JOINED US. PARDON? OH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU'RE RAISING YOUR HAND. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COLLEAGUES, APOLOGIES I CAN'T BE WITH YOU IN CHAMBER IN PERSON TODAY. I WILL BE JOINING -- I PLAN TO JOIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MEETING. KIDDO LOGISTICS FOR 9:30 A.M. MEETING. I DID WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT, A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF OUR SISTER CITY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN CHAMBER TODAY AND ARE OFTEN ABOUT TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS SHORTLY LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MEETING, BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND INCLUDING ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE GROUP, A DELEGATION THAT IS IN CHAMBER TODAY. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THIS ESTEEMED DELEGATION. I AM, AS THE COUNCIL LIAISON FOR KOBE, OUR SISTER CITY, I'M HONORED TO WELCOME THEM HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. [ APPLAUSE ] AND WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING. ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL JUST REPEAT WHAT I JUST SAID RECENTLY. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PLEASE NOTE THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL COMMENT MUST RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. CLERK, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP TODAY? >> WE HAVE 18 IN PERSON AND 12 REMOTE. >> OKAY. WE WILL GIVE EVERYBODY TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND WE'LL DO THE 10 AND 10 THING STARTING WITH IN PERSON. >> OKAY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20 MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER REGISTERED AND WILL BETWEEN IN- PERSON AND REMOTE UNTIL THE COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED. BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKER'S MICS WILL BE MUTED TO CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. >> WE HAVE KATHERINE GIBSON AND THEN KATHERINE KING AND THEN SHANNON WILSON. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS KATHERINE GIBSON, AND I JOIN YOU TODAY TO REQUEST YOUR VOTE FOR DR. JULIE KANG FOR THE OPEN COUNCIL SEAT IN DISTRICT 5. AS A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 1 FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, I CARE ABOUT THE OVERALL COMPOSITION OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AND THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES CONFRONTING OUR CITY. I BELIEVE JULIE WILL NOT ONLY RESPONSIBLY REPRESENT DISTRICT 5 CONSTITUENTS, SHE WILL WORK WITH EACH OF YOU TO CHAMPION PROGRESS, SOLUTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL SEATTLEITES. I'VE SEEN JULIE IN ACTION. AS AN ACADEMIC LEADER AT SEATTLE UNIVERSITY AND AS A COMMITTED AND ENERGETIC COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AT SEATTLE ROTARY. I KNOW HER BROAD, HOPEFUL AND INCLUSIVE APPROACH WILL SERVE US ALL WELL. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SELECT DR. JULIE KANG TO JOIN YOU ON THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS KATHERINE KANG, AND I'M HONORED TO RETURN AS THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF JULIE KANG. THE FIRST THING I LEARNED IN POLITICS IS THIS. IF YOU'RE NOT AT THE TABLE, YOU'RE ON THE MENU. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, THEN CHOICES WILL BE MADE FOR YOU. REPRESENTATION MATTERS, AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS I'VE WATCHED MY MOM NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AT TABLES SHE'S BEEN AT FOR 20 PLUS YEARS BUT ALSO TAKEN HER SEAT AT NEW TABLES SHE'S BEEN INVITED TO. SHE'S BROUGHT IN NEW VOICES FROM DISTRICT 5, ENGAGING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES TO RESEARCHING EVERY ISSUE BROUGHT FORWARD. SHE'S SHOWN UP AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR DISTRICT 5. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO SHOWS UP NOT ONLY WHEN IT'S REQUIRED BUT BECAUSE THEY CARE. THAT'S WHY LAST WEEK I WALKED UPHILL DURING MY LUNCH BREAK FROM MY INTERNSHIP TO STAND BESIDE HER, AND I KNOW I WASN'T ALONE. TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY AND THE 30 PLUS WHO HAVE COME OUT OR CALLED IN, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME. BEFORE LAST WEEK'S MEETING, SOME MEMBERS OF THE LABOR UNION WERE OUTSIDE THIS VERY CHAMBER CELEBRATING WITH CUPCAKES AS IF THE DECISION HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE. BUT COUNCILMEMBERS, I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN THIS PROCESS. I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRACY STILL MATTERS, THAT EACH CANDIDATE DESERVES A FAIR AND THOUGHTFUL EVALUATION, AND THAT OUR CONTINUED PRESENCE IN SUPPORT OF JULIE KANG IS A STATEMENT OF WHAT THIS DISTRICT TRULY VALUES. BECAUSE THIS DECISION MATTERS, NOT JUST PROCEDURALLY BUT SYMBOLICALLY, AND I TRUST THE EIGHT OF YOU TO LEAD WITH VISION. NEARLY 1,000 PETITION SIGNATURES RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE LIGHT THAT MY MOM BRINGS TOTO TABLE. I HOPE YOU'LL DEMONSTRATE YOUR LEADERSHIP BY SELECTING A CANDIDATE WHO FOCUSES ON THE FUTURE NOT JUST REPEATING WHAT'S BEEN DONE. PLEASE DON'T DISAPPOINT US BY CHOOSING ANYTHING LESS. THANK YOU. >> AND SHANNON WILSON AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ERICA CHANG AND MATTHEW -- GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SHANNON WILSON, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ROBERT WILSON FOR THE DISTRICT 5 APPOINTMENT. I'VE KNOWN ROB SINCE 2006. WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 16 YEARS AS YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS BY THE LAST NAME. AND I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT JUST HIS CURIOSITY AND HIS ABILITY TO LEARN. I'VE ALWAYS INTRODUCED HIM AS ONE OF THE FASTEST LEARNERS I'VE EVER MET, AND I THINK HE'S JUST LIVED HIS LIFE DEMONSTRATING THAT. STARTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME WHERE HE STUDIED HISTORY AND CHINESE AND TOOK HIMSELF OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE TO STUDY IN CHINA AND IMMERSE HIMSELF FOR THE BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THEN WHEN HE STARTED HIS NAVY CAREER, HE TOURED, YOU KNOW, DID A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS, AND DECIDED THAT HE WANTED TO CHOOSE SUBMARINES BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING AND RIGOROUS ASSIGNMENT OF ALL OF THE THINGS HE DID. SO HE CHOSE THAT PATH, PURSUED IT, SERVED HIS TIME. AND THEN TO ROUND OUT, LET'S GO TO BUSINESS SCHOOL. SO IN BETWEEN HIS DEPLOYMENTS AND HIS SERVICE, HE PASSED HIS EXAMS, APPLIED FOR BUSINESS SCHOOL, AND THEN WAS ABLE TO GO TO DARTMOUTH BUSINESS SCHOOL BEFORE STARTING HIS AMAZON CAREER. WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR US TO CHOOSE WHERE WE COULD LIVE, DISTRICT 5 FELT LIKE HOME. SO WE BROUGHT OUR FAMILY HERE IN 2016 AND DOVE RIGHT IN. WE'VE RAISED OUR KIDS KNOWING THE VALUE OF TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT, USING THE LIBRARIES, USING ALL OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR US HERE IN SEATTLE. AND THEN, ALSO, DOVE INTO VOLUNTEER SERVICE. SO YOU'LL FIND US ON SATURDAY MORNINGS BRINGING THE FAMILY TO NORTH HELP LINE WHICH SERVES BOTH OUR NEIGHBORS IN LAKE CITY AS WELL AS BITTER LAKE, AND YOU'LL ALSO SEE US SUPER INVOLVED IN OUR TITLE ONE SCHOOL OLYMPIC ELEMENTARY WHERE YOU'LL SEE HE'S ON THE PTA BOARD RUNNING THE FESTIVITIES AND AS WELL AS TEACHING KIDS HOW TO ICE SKATE AND HELPING WITH THE SCHOOL DRAMA DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR ROBERT WILSON TODAY. >> ERICA CHANG AND THEN I BELIEVE IT'S MATTHEW BENCHIA -- I'M SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR LAST NAME. TRYING TO READ YOUR HANDWRITING. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT AGAIN. I'M HERE TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY ASK FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT FOR DR. KANG. SEATTLE IS FACING MANY PRESSING ISSUES, A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET SHORTFALL, THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, ONGOING PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, AND THIS CRITICAL TIME WE NEED AT THAT COMMITTED COUNCILMEMBER WHO WILL ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF BOTH THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY FOR THE LONG HAUL, SOMEONE WHO IS COLLABORATIVE, PRINCIPLED AND FOCUSED ON EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT JULIE'S EXCEPTIONAL QUALIFICATIONS. SHE IS A LEADER WHO LISTENS DEEPLY AND PUTS THE NEEDS OF OTHERS ABOVE HER OWN PERSONAL OR POLITICAL INTERESTS. JULIE HAS A STRONG FOUNDATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND HAS A COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT. WE WILL BRING LIVED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE MAKING HER UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO HELP GUIDE SEATTLE THROUGH ITS DIFFICULT, CHALLENGING TIMES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, JULIE IS A NATURAL BRIDGE BUILDER. SHE THRIVES IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS GENERATIONS CULTURES, AND PERSPECTIVES TO ADVANCE SHARED GOALS. SHE WILL ALSO BRING A DIVERSE VOICE TO THE COUNCIL THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERREPRESENTED PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF DISTRICT 5 AND THE BROADER SEATTLE COMMUNITY. HER PRESENCE ON THE COUNCIL WILL BE A MEANINGFUL STEP TOWARDS ENSURING OUR LEADERSHIP BETTER REFLECTS THE PEOPLE IT SERVES. FOR THE REASONS MENTIONED, I ASK FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL AND SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF HER APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MATTHEW. I'M HERE TO ASK FOR THE APPOINTMENT FOR JULIE KANG FOR THE DISTRICT 5 VACANCY. I'M A BUDGET ANALYST FOR A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. OVER THE PAST NEARLY 30 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE I'VE SERVED ON NONPROFIT BOARDS AS AN OFFICER AS WELL. I KNOW JULIE SINCE 2010, AND SHE'S A WORKER BEE AS PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW THE 80/20 PERCENT RULE, RIGHT, THAT 20% OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS DO 80% OF THE WORK. WELL, JULIE IS ONE OF THOSE WORKER BEES. I'VE BEEN PROUD TO WORK WITH HER ON A LOT OF ISSUES AND PROJECTS AND SHE'S ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE BIGGER PICTURE SHE WORKS FOR. I'VE BEEN ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT SHE STEPS UP TO PUBLIC OFFICE, AND TODAY IS THAT DAY. WHILE SHE MAY BE A NOVICE WITH RESPECT TO PUBLIC POLICY, SHE'LL WORK HARD TO EDUCATE HERSELF AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY. I'M CONFIDENT IN HER LEADERSHIP AND PROUD TO SUPPORT HER TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK. >> WE NOW HAVE JULIE KANG AND THEN ROBIN PEZ AND DAVID WOODWARD. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JULIE KANG, AND TODAY I ASK PRESIDENT NELSON AND COUNCILMEMBERS FOR AN EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 5 AND SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. AND HERE'S MY WHY. I'M RUNNING FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR MY NEIGHBORS. WHEN I MAKE COMMITMENT, I'M COMMITTED LONG TERM. I'M SEEKING YOUR APPOINTMENT TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. THOSE WHO CAN'T ALWAYS COME TO THE CITY HALL AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS. I WILL GO TO THEM. I HEAR THEIR ISSUES. I ALSO BRING NEW ENERGY. I HAVE DECADES OF PROVEN SERVICE IN EDUCATION AS WELL AS IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PAIRED WITH A FRESH NEW PERSPECTIVE. I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEEN DONE BY OUR CURRENT TALENTED COUNCILMEMBERS AS WELL AS WHAT'S AHEAD, AND I'M READY TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES OR, IN FACT, I HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT, TO WORK HARD TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. YOU'VE HEARD FROM CANDIDATES TALKING ABOUT SHOWING UP. I MODEL THIS BEHAVIOR EVERY DAY FOR MY NEIGHBORS, STUDENTS, AND OUR DAUGHTER. I WAS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO CAME BOTH TO THE LD- 46 AND 32nd COMMUNITY SUMMER EVENTS. I WAS PRESENT BECAUSE DISTRICT 5 SPANS BOTH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND I WANTED TO HEAR THE CONCERNS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL AS THEIR IDEAS. I WAS THE ONLY CANDIDATE AT THE AANHPI CANDIDATE FORUM WHERE DISTRICT 9, 8, AS WELL AS D2 CANDIDATES WERE SPEAKING. AANHPI REPRESENTS ALL 20% OF OUR SEATTLE RESIDENTS, AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN CONSIDERING REPRESENTATION AT THISTHIS SEATTLE LEVEL. THANK YOU. >> IS IT ROBIN? >> MY HANDWRITING HAS NOT IMPROVED FROM LAST WEEK. IT'S P-E-E-L. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M ROBIN PEEL IN SUPPORT OF JULIE KANG AND ASKING FOR HER APPOINTMENT. I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE SHE IS WHAT THE CITY NEEDS RIGHT NOW. JULIE'S VALUES AND EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP IS WHAT WE NEED NOW. I TOLD YOU JULIE WAS AN ENERGIZER BUNNY. SHE BRINGS A NEW ENERGY AND A PROVEN COMMITMENT AND DECADES OF SHOWING UP FOR PEOPLE BUILDING COALITIONS AND DELIVERING SMART COMMUNITY DECISIONS. MY PARTNER IS ASIAN AMERICAN AND SHE RECOGNIZES THE VALUE JULIE BRINGS TO BE INCLUSIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AROUND SEATTLE. SHE'S NOT HERE TO PLAY POLITICS. SHE'S HERE TO GET THINGS DONE. AND RIGHT NOW WE NEED LEADERS AT CITY HALL WHO UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES NEED. WE DO NOT NEED A PLACE HOLDER. JULIE HAS A VISION OF THE FUTURE THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US, A STEADY, TRUSTWORTHY VOICE AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, ONE THAT CENTERS PEOPLE IN PROGRESS THAT'S ROOTED IN COMMUNITY. I URGE YOU TO APPOINT JULIE KANG. SEATTLE WILL BE MUCH STRONGER FROM HER ADDITION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> WE HAVE JACKIE AND THEN ELISE. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY. THE REASON IS THAT I JUST WANTED TO SAY I AM SUPPORTING DR. JULIE KANG BUT I'VE ALREADY SAID IN THE PRIOR COMMENT PERIOD ABOUT THE GENERAL CONNECTION WE HAVE THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION SEATTLE UNIVERSITY, I MENTIONED MY ROLE CHAIRING THE BOARD. SHE'S A SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS. I MENTIONED MY ROLE ON THE SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD WHICH YOU OVERSEE AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WHAT I AM NOT HEARING YET WITH DR. KANG'S CONNECTIONS GLOBALLY, HER GLOBAL COMPETENCY, HER SOPHISTICATION AROUND NATIONAL EDUCATION WHICH HAS BEEN MY CAREER FOR 45 YEARS. WE'RE IN A TIME WHERE HIGHER ED IS ININ MAJOR CRISIS PARTICULARLY IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FIELD AND WE NEED SOMEBODY LIKE DR. KANG WHO HAS WORKED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND MANY OTHER INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE OUR CITY THE EXPERTISE AND I'M CHAIR OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. SAME THING, I'M WORKING WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ON EXPORTING. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT TO DO EXPORTING AND SMALL BUSINESSES FOR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. I HAVE SEVEN FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE ASIAN AMERICAN FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF ASIA, SO I REALLY WANT TO SEE OUR CITY COUNCIL HAVE THAT GLOBAL XE COMPETENCY AND SHE'S WAY BEYOND THAT HAS COMPETENCE IN MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING HER SERIOUSLY FOR THIS ROLE. I WOULD BE EXCITED TO WORK WITH HER IN ANY WAY I CAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> JACK AND THEN ELISE AND WE'LL GO TO REMOTE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS JACK. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO THE CHOICE OF WHO YOU APPOINT, BUT I WANT THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO HELP THE NEW APPOINTEE AND THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 5 IN A PARTICULAR WAY. THERE ARE HUGE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THREE OF THEM IN DISTRICT 5. ONE IS THAT KING COUNTY METRO HAS ADOPTED THE LINWOOD LINK ORDINANCE ADOPTED IN 2024, AND IT DOES NOT COMPLEMENT THE NEW LINK STATION THAT WILL OPEN IN 2026 THAT COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ GOT FOR US. SO I REALLY HOPE THAT THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL WILL LOBBY THE COUNTY TO CHANGE THAT NETWORK AS SECOND AURORA IS A HUGE ISSUE IN DISTRICT 5, AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS ALLOCATED $50 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT BUT THE PHASING IS STILL DISTANT AND IT WAS POORLY TARGETED. IT'S TARGETED FOR A PART OF AURORA THAT ALREADY HAS SIDEWALKS. IT'S CLEAR THE PART OF AURORA NART OF 150 STREET SHOULD HAVE THE MONEY FIRST. THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS THERE. THERE'S NO ACCESS MANAGEMENT. THAT'S THE PART OF DISTRICT 5 THAT NEEDS THE HELP FIRST AND MOST. THE THIRD ISSUE IS THAT DISTRICT 5 LACKS SIDEWALKS MORE THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TARGET ITS LIMITED RESOURCES CAREFULLY, AND I RECOMMEND THAT IT GO FIRST TO THE RAILS THAT LACK SIDEWALKS. HALF OF 30th NORTHEAST AURORA THOSE ARE THE EXAMPLES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ELISE. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I AM ELISE ORLICK, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FAIR VOTE WASHINGTON, AND I WORK ALONGSIDE NILU JENKS IN THAT ROLE. WHILE IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO LOSE HER FROM OUR TEAM ALL SEATTLE VOTERS WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE HER ON CITY COUNCIL. NILU IS INCREDIBLY SMART AND HARD WORKING, AND SHE'S DEDICATED TO MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR CITY. WHEN THE MAJORITY OF YOU ARE UP FOR RE- ELECTION IN 2027, THE RACE WILL BE CONDUCTED USING RANKED CHOICE VOTING. AND AS WE'VE LEARNED FROM CITIES LIKE PORTLAND, THE SUCCESS OF THAT ELECTION WILL DEPEND ON VOTER UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST IN THIS CHANGE. NILU IS THE PERSON FOR THAT JOB. SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTATION DISCUSSIONS FOR OVER A YEAR AND BRINGS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICY THE RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVED, AND POTENTIAL OBSTACLES. SHE COULD LEAD THIS PROCESS IF ON COUNCIL INCLUDING SECURING NECESSARY FUNDING FOR VOTER EDUCATION WORK AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO UTILIZE RANK CHOICE IN COUNCIL MATTERS. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS APPOINTMENT COULD BE MADE USING RANKED CHOICE VOTING. OUR CITY'S NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AS A DEFENDER, AN INNOVATOR FOR A STRONG DEMOCRACY IS GOING TO BE AT STAKE WITH NATIONAL EYES ON US. SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT THIS ELECTION GOES SMOOTHLY. FOR THAT REASON AND MANY OTHERS, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT NILU JENKS FOR THIS POSITION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE NEW COUNCILMEMBER. >> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. >> OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M SPEAKING TO SUPPORT DR. JULIE KANG FOR THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 APPOINTMENT. I'M A LONG- TERM SEATTLE RESIDENT AND ALSO A FIRST GENERATION KOREAN AMERICAN IMMIGRANT AND A FORMER SOCIAL WORKER. I GOT TO KNOW JULIE KANG AS A COLLEAGUE AT SEATTLE U AND AS A MEMBER OF SEATTLE'S ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THERE ARE 160,000 ASIAN AMERICANS IN SEATTLE. THAT IS ALMOST 18% OF SEATTLE-ITES. JULIE KANG REALLY KNOWS THE COMMUNITY AND SERVES EXTENSIVELY TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THERE. I WOULDN'T BE SUPPORTING JULIE IF I THOUGHT SHE COULD REPRESENT JUST OUR COMMUNITY. I'M HERE BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S A BRIDGE BUILDER WHO WILL COLLABORATE ACROSS COMMUNITIES TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR ALL SEATTLE-ITES. FOR INSTANCE AS A KOREAN AMERICAN COALITION WASHINGTON BOARD MEMBER, JULIE KANG COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROVIDE KOREAN AND SPANISH- SPEAKING VOTER REGISTRATION THAT ENHANCED OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH KOREAN AND SPANISH SPEAKING VOTERS. ALSO AS A CHAIR AND FOUNDER OF PACIFIC BANK, JULIE HELPED CREATE A COMMUNITY BANK TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES RIGHT THERE. JULIE KANG HAS A STRONG SENSE OF ETHICS BUT HAS DEMONSTRATED AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS SHOW UP, LISTEN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND REACH ACROSS DINSS TO FIND PRACTICAL AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THROUGH COMPLICATED AND TOUGH ISSUES. SHE DOESN'T WALK AWAY FROM TOUGH ISSUES. SHE SOLVES THEM. I BELIEVE THESE ARE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES THAT OUR CITY LEADS RIGHT NOW, SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPOINT JULIE KANG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT JULIE KANG. >> OKAY. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BRYNN FRIST FOLLOWED BY MAYA. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS BRYAN FRIST. I'M IN THE AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I LOVE SEATTLE. MY COMMENTS TODAY ARE TO FULLY ENDORSE DR. JULIE KANG FOR SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. JULIE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER, INTELLIGENT, DRIVEN, AND, ABOVE ALL, DEEPLY COMPASSIONATE AND SELFLESS. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, JULIE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN EDUCATOR. I WOULD NOT BE A TEACHER TODAY WITHOUT JULIE'S EFFORTS. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID- 19 PANDEMIC, SHE SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AT SEATTLE UNIVERSITY. DESPITE THE IMMENSE CHALLENGES AT THAT TIME JULIE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM AND ACHIEVE MY GOAL. SHE ALSO MADE INTENTIONAL EFFORTS TO ENSURE OUR COHORT WAS NOT ONLY EXCELLENT BUT REPRESENTED THOSE WE SERVED. JULIE LIVES BY WHAT SHE TEACHES. SHE REPRESENTS. SHE ACTIVELY CHAMPIONED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVERSE MULTILINGUAL TEACHING FORCE AND SHE DID THE WORK TO MAKE THAT VISION REAL. THAT SAME COMMITMENT DID EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WE NEED COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE BOTH EXCELLENT AND REFLECTIVE OF SEATTLE'S RICH DIVERSITY INCLUDING GREATER ASIAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATION. YEARS LATER JULIE AND I REMAIN CONNECTED, SHE STILL MAKES THE EFFORT TO REACH OUT, MEET IN PERSON, OFFER MENTORSHIP AND CHECK IN ON HOW WE'RE ALL DOING IN THE FIELD. THAT CONSISTENCY AND CARE SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT HER CHARACTER. I HAVE NO DOUBT JULIE WILL BRING THAT SAME DEDICATION AND HEARTHEART SERVING THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. THE CITY WILL BE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER ON THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MAYA MAGARATI. AFTER WILL BE WILLIAM PAGE JR. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6, MAYA. >> MY NAME IS MAYA -- GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS MAYA . I'M CALLING FROM DISTRICT 5. I AM ACTUALLY A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5 IN SEATTLE. I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, AND I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT 5. I AM NEAR THE MOSQUE. WE HAVE ONLY ONE MOSQUE IN THIS AREA. AND NEAR THE LIGHT RAIL NATION IN NORTH GATE. AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AND SELECT AND APPOINT DR. JULIE KANG TO THE COUNCILMEMBER. I ASK YOU TO INVITE HER TO JOIN YOUR TEAM BECAUSE JULIE IS NOT ONLY A COMPASSIONATE LEADER BUT ALSO HAS MANY, MANY INNOVATIVE IDEAS HOW TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 5. I AM NEPALI AMERICAN. I USED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF NEPAL SOCIETY AND I VOLUNTEER IN DISTRICT 5 IN MANY, MANY ASPECTS. RIGHT NOW WHERE I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 THERE ARE LOTS OF NEW HOUSING PROJECTS GOING ON WITH A LOT OF OLD TREES BEING REMOVED FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I DO WANT TO ASK THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUPPORT AND APPOINT JULIE KANG FOR THAT, YOU CAN ALL TOGETHER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER THAN WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER JULIE KANG TO JOIN YOUR TEAM. AND IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD HAVE A LOT OF GOOD TIMES WORKING WITH JULIE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM PAGE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BECKY SCHROEDER. WILLIAM, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DR. JULIE KANG'S APPOINTMENT. I'M A COUNCILMEMBER IN MOUNT LAKE TERRACE, AN EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR THE 32nd DEMOCRATS AND CHAIR OF THE ENDORSEMENT COMMITTEE ON WHICH I SERVE WITH JULIE KANG. AS I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW JULIE, SHE IMPRESSES ME WITH THE ENERGY AND COMMITMENT SHE HAS BROUGHT TO HER COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. AS AN ADVOCATE FOR PROGRESS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY. AS A LEADER THAT HER COMMUNITY TRUSTS AS WELL AS HER WORK ON THE COMMITTEE WITH HER FRESH APPROACH. JULIE HAS DELIVERED ON HER PROMISE. HER INSIGHT AND THOUGHTFULNESS HAS BROUGHT ANOTHER LEVELLEVEL COMMITMENT TO THE COMMITTEE THAT HAS ENABLED US TO BE BETTER AT WHAT WE DO. THAT SHE WILL BRING WORKING WITH YOU. AS THE FIRST BLACK AMERICAN CHAIR OF THE ENDORSEMENT COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE ONLY THIRD BLACK AMERICAN ON COUNCIL, I AM TRULY INSPIRED BY JULIE'S ABILITY, WILLINGNESS AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE TO ALL. SHE'S COMMITTED TO A FUTURE THAT WORKS FOR ALL SEATTLEITES. I KNOW SHE WILL SHOW UP. SHE WILL REPRESENT. SHE WILL ALWAYS LISTEN AND SHE WILL DELIVER. SO I URGE YOU TO APPOINT DR. JULIE KANG TO THE DISTRICT 5 SEAT. THANK YOU. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS BECKY SCHROEDER FOLLOWED BY ROBERTO ALVAREZ. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS BECKY SCHROEDER AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5. I'M CALLING IN HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR DR. JULIE KANG AND ASK THAT YOU SERIOUSLY CONSIDER HER FOR THE OPEN COUNCIL SEAT POSITION. JULIE IS MY NEIGHBOR AND MY FRIEND, BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE IS SOMEONE I'VE SEEN WORK TIRELESSLY IN OUR COMMUNITY. SHE SHOWS UP WHETHER THAT'S MEETING WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, ORGANIZING LOCAL EVENTS, OR LISTENING TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH. JULIE IS PRESENT AND SHE HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW THROUGH. WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME ABOUT JULIE IS SHE DOESN'T JUST TALK ABOUT CHANGE, SHE MAKES THINGS HAPPEN. SHE'S SOMEONE WHO CONNECTS THE DOTS. SHE BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. SHE INSPIRES OTHERS TO TAKE ACTION AND SHE GETS THINGS DONE. SHE'S THE KIND OF PERSON WHO SEES A NEED AND SHE MOVES QUICKLY AND WITH PURPOSE. I HAVE SEEN HER BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY WITH FOLKS WHO DON'T ALWAYS FEEL HEARD BY CITY OFFICIALS. SHE'S EARNED A LOT OF TRUST, AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS. AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE JULIE WOULD BRING NOT ONLY COMPETENCE BUT INTEGRITY AND ENERGY TO THIS ROLE. I KNOW SHE WOULD SERVE WITH HEART AND WITH THE COMMUNITY FRONT AND CENTER. SO I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT DR. JULIE KANG TO YOUR COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS ALBERTO ALVAREZ ALVAREZ. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. WEALTHY PEOPLE BRING GREED AND ARROGANCE. IT WAS HURTFUL TO HEAR A POLITICIAN SAY THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT WAS A LUXURY TO PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES. WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, MY GRANDMOTHER DIED WHEN HER BODY ATROPHIED FROM ISSUES WITH M.S. IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO HER PASSING, WHEN SHE WAS WHEELCHAIR BOUND, I HELPED HER GET TO HER MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. IT WAS DIFFICULT BUT OUR FAMILY COULDN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO HELP AT LEAST. PUBLIC TRANSIT IS NOT A LUXURY. IT IS A LIFE LINE FOR WORKING FAMILIES. PARENTS WITH STROLLERS, ELDERLY PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES DEPEND DAILY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. IT SEEMS BACK ROOM DEALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BRINGING MORE WEALTH, MORE GREED, MORE ARROGANCE TO THE COUNCIL. I PRAY YOU ALL DO THE RIGHT THING.÷÷HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS FOLLOWED BY KAREN PARK. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6. ARE YOU THERE? OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO KAREN PARK NOW AND WILL COME BACK IF AVAILABLE. KAREN, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HEAR FROM EITHER OF OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS. >> WE CAN GO BACK TO THEM, PHIL, SO WE'LL GO BACK AND DO IN PERSON. BACK TO IN- PERSON WITH ARIANA -- I'M SORRY IT'S ARAYA AND THEN DAVID AND THEN GRACE. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. CLOSER? HELLO, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I'M ARAYA AND I'M ADVOCATING FOR NILU÷÷NILU FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, I KNOW THE VALUE OF HAVING REPRESENTATIVES AND POLICY LEADERS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS WHO WANT TO STAND ALONGSIDE ACTIVISTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EVERYDAY SEATTLEITES ALIKE TO BUILD THE WORLD WE WANT TO SEE AND THRIVE IN. WE DESERVE TO HAVE SOMEONE LISTEN TO US, HELP US CREATE THE WORLD WE WANT TO LIVE IN AND BE A MODEL FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW INSTEAD OF RUNNING A CAMPAIGN ON ONE THING AND ENDING UP SUPPORTING CORPORATIONS AND PROFITS OVER PEOPLE. SOME POLICIES AND PLATFORMS I LOVE THAT NILU JENKS ADVOCATES FOR ARE EDUCATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING, SAFE SIDEWALKS AND PEOPLE OVER CARS THOUGHT PROCESS, ENCOURAGES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AS WELL AS PRIORITIZING HOW TO PREPARE FOR CLIMATE REFUGEES THAT WILL BE LIVING WITH US AND WILL BECOME OUR NEIGHBORS. WE CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE. WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WHERE IMMIGRANT LIVES MATTER, WHERE HOUSINGHOUSING A HUMAN RIGHT AND WHERE WE KNOW WE ARE ALL SMART ENOUGH, FOCUSED ENOUGH AND POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CREATE A FUTURE WHERE WE ALL CAN THRIVE. WE'RE ALL CONNECTED. NO ONE IS ALONE. NO ONE POLICY STANDS ALONE. THE CLIMATE, HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY OF LIVING, HEALTH CARE, THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA ARE ALL CONNECTED AND WE, AS PEOPLE LIVING AND WITNESSING THESE STRUGGLES, KNOW THIS WELL, AND WE DESERVE TO HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS, AND I BELIEVE JENKS WILL DO JUST THAT. AND SOMETHING I PERSONALLY LOVE ABOUT JENKS IS SHE'S AN ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND AS PBS TAUGHT MY GENERATION AND MANY OTHERS HAVING FUN ISN'T HARD WHEN YOU HAVE A LIBRARY CARD. SO IT STARTS WITH SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS AND ENDS WITH A HEALTHY ABUNDANT AND HOPEFUL WORLD WHERE WE ALL, OUR YOUTH AND EVERYONE IN THE FUTURE, NO LONGER HAS TO JUST SURVIVE BUT CAN THRIVE. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> IS THERE A DAVID? DAVID SCO AND AFTER DAVID WILL BE GRACE. >> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. >> GET REALLY CLOSE. >> MY NAME IS DAVID. I'M HERE FOR JULIE KANG, BUT EVERYBODY IS SAYING GOOD THINGS ABOUT HER, BUT I COME HERE FOR SPEAKING WITH WHY WE NEED TO HAVE JULIE KANG ON CITY COUNCIL IN DISTRICT 5. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN SEATTLE, AND LATELY WE HAVE TWO BREAK- INS AND COST OF WINDOWS ABOUT $10,000 AND INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE IS ABOUT $2,000. IF WE GIVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THE NAME OF THE PERSON, ADDRESS AND EVERYTHING, THEY SAID THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MANPOWER AND THEY CANNOT REALLY GET INTO FINDING THAT PERSON. AND WE GOT SECOND TIME BREAKING IN÷÷IN THE SAME PERSON. WE CALL THEM AND POLICE DEPARTMENT KNOW WHO HE IS. SO BASICALLY WE NEED -- DEAR COUNCIL, YOU HAVE A NICE JOB, BUT WE MINORITY PEOPLE HAVE A PERSON WHO CAN TALK REGARDING ABOUT THE STRUGGLING OF THE BUSINESS IN THE SODO AREA OF SEATTLE. 20% OF MINORITY PEOPLE RUNNING BUSINESS IN SEATTLE AND WE WANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY WE CAN TALK, HELP THE COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT CAN SPEAK FOR MINORITY PEOPLE. I THINK JULIE KANG IS THE PERSON. THANK YOU. >> AFTER GRACE, IT WILL BE BENNETT. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR DR. JULIE KANG'S APPOINTMENT. MY NAME IS GRACE JONES AND I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT, AND I'M FINISHING OUT MY MSBA PROGRAM AT SEATTLE UNIVERSITY. I HAVE WORKED IN DR. JULIE KANG'S OFFICE, BUT NOT DIRECTLY REPORTING TO HER. SHE BRINGS OUR UNIT JOY, LITERALLY. SHE FOUND THE JOY CLUB TO BRING JOY TO OUR OFFICE. DURING LUNCH, SHE HOSTS MONTHLY TEA PARTIES TO GATHER COMMUNITY. SHE BROUGHT CHINA AND CHANGED OUR LUNCH ROOM TO BUILD COMMUNITY. SHE CELEBRATES CULTURES AND IT'S INCLUSIVE. EVEN THOUGH I'M A STUDENT WORKER, SHE DOES NOT HAVE HIERARCHY. SHE TREATS EACH PERSON WITH RESPECT AND KINDNESS. I THINK SHE MODELS LEADERSHIP WITH RESPECT, KINDNESS AND GENUINE CONNECTIONS. I'M STILL LEARNING ABOUT POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT. WITH SOMEONE LIKE DR. KANG IN POLITICS, I WILL STAY ENGAGED AND KEEP HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS. I KNOW OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION AND AFFORDABILITY WILL IMPROVE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> AFTER BENNETT WE'LL GO TO JENNIFER DUNE AND THEN KELLY BROWN. >> I YIELD MY TIME SO YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE APPOINTMENT THANKS. >> JENNIFER? AND THEN AFTER JENNIFER WILL BE KELLY BROWN AND THEN IT'S LUKA HOWARD. >> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. IT'S FAR EASIER TO SING IN FRONT OF A CLASSROOM WITH FIRST GRADERS THAN FOR ME TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF A ROOM OF ADULTS. I'M JENNIFER DUNN SPEAKING AS A VETERAN TEACHER AT OLYMPIC VIEW ELEMENTARY, A BOARD OF DIRECTORS LEADER AND POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT TEAM FOR THE SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. A FELLOW MAPLE LEAF RESIDENT, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD THE JOY OF KNOWING ROB WILSON AS A PARENT, VOLUNTEER AND A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TEACHING ROB'S YOUNGEST CHILD AND COACHING HIS MIDDLE CHILD THROUGH THE GIRLS ON THE RUN PROGRAM AND IF THERE'S ONE THING I CAN SAY FOR CERTAINTY, IT'S THAT ROB SHOWS UP CONSISTENTLY, HUMBLY AND WITH HEART. HE'S ONE OF THE RARE PEOPLE WHO MAKES THINGS BETTER BY NOT ONLY BEING PART OF THEM, WHETHER HE'S HELPING ORGANIZE A SCHOOL EVENT OR JUMPING IN TO VOLUNTEER AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, ROB BRINGS ENERGY, THOUGHTFULNESS AND A REAL SPIRIT OF SERVICE. OUR SCHOOL EVENTS HAVE BECOME NOT JUST MORE ORGANIZED BUT MORE FUN THANKS TO HIS LEADERSHIP AND CREATIVITY. NOW ROB IS STEPPING UP TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCILOR AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE BETTER SUITED. HE KNOWS HOW TO LISTEN, HOW TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND GET THINGS DONE WITHOUT NEEDING THE SPOTLIGHT. HE DOESN'T JUST CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HE INVESTS IN IT. SO IF YOU WANT SOMEONE ON CITY COUNCIL WHO ALREADY WALKS THE WALK AND LEADS WITH KINDNESS AND PURPOSE, N ME IN SUPPORTING ROB WILSON. THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE KELLY BROWN THEN LUKA HOWARD AND JALISSA. >> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS AND MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5, AND I WORK IN THE SOCIAL SERVICE SECTOR IN DISTRICT 5. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL THE CANDIDATES COMING FORWARD. IT'S BEEN SO LOVELY TO SEE ALL THE PASSION AND IDEAS THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS DISTRICT, AND I THANK YOU AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE ELECTION IN 2026. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF DEBORA JUAREZ. HER PAST REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN HER DISTRICTS RESULTED IN INCREASED INVESTMENTS FROM THE CITY, FOCUS ON GEOGRAPHIC PARITY, MAKING SURE THEY RECEIVED THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOLKS IN OTHER DISTRICTS WERE, AND WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THAT HAS EXPANDED SERVICES FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. HER PRIOR EXPERIENCE ON COUNCIL MAKES HER UNIQUELY QUALIFIED FORFOR OPPORTUNITY, AND WITH THE ABILITY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, ESPECIALLY AS WE ENTER INTO A BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SUPER BRIEF. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, EVERYBODY. >> HELLO, COUNCIL. IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK HERE TODAY, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT NILU JENKS IS THE ONLY PERSON HERE WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF PEOPLE- FOCUSED ADVOCACY IN DISTRICT 5. I THINK THAT NILU JENKS IS THE ONLY PERSON HERE WITH A TRACK RECORD OF PEOPLE FIRST ADVOCACY IN DISTRICT 5, AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION THAT ANYBODY COULD HAVE IN THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THE NEXT ELECTION IS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR COUNCIL WILL BE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNCILMEMBER THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THAT NILU JENKS IS THE PERSON THAT IS GOING TO ENGAGE WITH ADVOCATES AS WELL AS WORK WITH IMPLEMENTATION FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING. AND THIS IS WHY I THINK YOU SHOULD NOMINATE HER FOR THE DISTRICT 5 POSITION. THANK YOU. >> AND JALISSA? >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JULISSA AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE PRESENT HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF DR. JULIE KANG. I MET JULIE WHEN I MOVED TO WASHINGTON ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO, AND SHE WAS SO WELCOMING TO ME. WE'VE OBVIOUSLY REMAINED REALLY GOOD FRIENDS. I WAS A TRANSPLANT FROM CALIFORNIA, AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SEE HER GROW AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, AN EDUCATOR, WHICH I FEEL EDUCATORS ARE PILLARS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AS A MOTHER TO BEAUTIFUL KATHERINE KANG WHO ALSO GREW UP WITH MY SON AND I'M HERE MORE ON A PERSONAL FRIEND LEVEL TO SEE ACCOUNT THAT SHE ALWAYS WAS SO GOOD IN INVITING US TO KOREAN EDUCATION AND AS A LATINA MYSELF, IT'S NICE TO SEE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES KIND OF COME TOGETHER AND LEARN ALL THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. THAT WAS ONE THING THAT WILL ALWAYS STAY WITH ME WHEN MY SON WAS YOUNG AND LEARNED ABOUT THE KOREAN CULTURE. I WAS ALSO A SEATTLE SMALL OWNER, AND HAVING JULIE'S SUPPORT FOR OUR BUSINESS WAS INCREDIBLE. SHE IS DEFINITELY A PERSON THAT IS GOING TO BRIDGE COMMUNITIES AND I THINK IT'S EVIDENT TODAY IN THE NUMBER OF SUPPORTERS THAT SHE WILL BE A VERY STRONG LEADER FOR DISTRICT 5. SO THANK YOU. >> WE'LL MOVE BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. >> OKAY. WE'LL TRY AGAIN WITH OUR REMAINING REMOTE SPEAKERS, AND AS A REMINDER, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT I HAVE BEEN UNCOMMUTED. WE'LL START WITH SUJUNG CHOY AND KAREN PARK. >> HI. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR SOMEONE I DEEPLY RESPECT, DR. JULIE KANG, A CANDIDATE FOR SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL IN DISTRICT 5. I SPEAK NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TODAY. I'M ASKING FOR REPRESENTATION THAT REFLECTS MANY FACES OF THE CITY. OVER THE PAST DECADE I HAVE KNOWN JULIE KANG, I WITNESSED HER DEDICATION TO SEATTLE COMMUNITY. A STANDOUT EXAMPLE IS KOREAN AMERICAN DAY 2024. AS A PRESIDENT OF THE EVENT, DR. KANG WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BRING THE KOREAN COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND GROW THE AUDIENCE ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE. SHE REACHED OUT TO NUMEROUS CITYCITY SUCCESSFULLY SECURED PROCLAMATION IN 13 CITIES INCLUDING SEATTLE. FORMING A GRASSROOTS EFFORT INTO A PUBLIC CIVIC MILESTONE. I ENDORSE DR. KANG'S CANDIDACY NOT ONLY FOR EVERYTHING SHE HAS ACHIEVED BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR WHO SHE IS. SHE GREW UP FROM A SINGLE IMMIGRANT MOTHER WHO EXPERIENCED POVERTY. SHE UNDERSTANDS THE DAILY CHALLENGES MANY RESIDENTS FACE. IN A CITY WHERE ASIAN AMERICAN VOTERS REMAIN UNDERREPRESENTED, HER PRESENCE WOULD BRING MUCH- NEEDED DIVERSITY TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> AND THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN PARK FOLLOWED BY DAVID HAYNES. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KAREN PARK AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS THIS MORNING FOR DR. JULIE KANG, AND I GUESS I WOULD JUST BE ADDING TO EVERYONE ELSE'S VOICES THIS MORNING AROUND HOW JULIE'S A BORN LEADER. SHE'S AN EXTRAORDINARY PERSON WHO IS WILLING TO LISTEN, TO SUPPORT THE UNDERDOG. SHE BRINGS HOPE AND LIGHT AND LAUGHTER TO EVERY SPACE SHE'S IN. I REALLY ADMIRE HOW SHE DOESN'T COME IN WITH HER MIND MADE UP ON ISSUES. SHE OFTEN WILL TRY TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON AN ISSUE. ALTHOUGH, IN THE END, SHE DOES STAY TRUE TO HER VALUES, WHICH REALLY ARE AT THE CORE, ALL ABOUT EQUITY AND ABOUT FAIRNESS. I JUST ADMIRE HER SO MUCH, AND I THINK WE REALLY IN SEATTLE NEED A BORN LEADER WHO ALSO HAS THE OF A PUBLIC SERVANT. HER ENERGY IS SIMPLY UNMATCHED, AND SO IS HER COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR BELOVED CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES. GO AHEAD, DAVID. >> DAVID HAYNES. TODAY IS PROOF THAT PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONES CIRCUMVENTING OUR DEMOCRACY AND STACKING THE DAIS WITH UNELECTED LANDLORDS AND CORPORATE WALL STREET LAWYERS WHO SELL OUT THE WORKING CLASS. DISTRICT 5 HAS SUFFERED BAD LEADERSHIP FOR TOO LONG. YET COUNCIL WANTS TO REPEAT THE PAST WHILE REGURGITATING THE SAME RACE- BAITING WHITE- MAN AGENDA TO MISJUDGE SKIN COLOR FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS EXACERBATING XLIK SAFETY CRISIS, CAUSING A BUDGET CRISIS, STEADY AND PROGRESSIVE DECLINE. WE'VE WITNESSED DISTRICT 5 THE LAST NINE YEARS, SUFFERING BAD PRIORITIES STILL IN THE BUDGET UNDERMINING SOCIETY. THE BUDGET CRISIS, PUBLIC SAFETY, THE HOMELESS CRISIS. YET OVER EIGHT YEARS ONLY SEVEN SHELTER BEDS FOR TRAFFICKED WOMEN WITH THE AURORA COMMONS WHICH IS CLOSED ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND ONLY OPEN FOR THREE HOURS BETWEEN 10:00 AND 1:00 AND THEN THEY CLOSE. AND THEN MAYBE THEY OPEN FOR ANOTHER THREE HOURS. THIS IS LIKE WORKING THE THE PLAN. THIS IS THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT ON THE COUNCIL'S PARTNERSHIPS AND EFFORTS. A TELLTALE SIGN THERE IS IMPAIRED JUDGMENT COMING OUT OF CITY HALL. THE REAL STOLEN PROGRESS. YOU KNOW, SEATTLE WON'T EVEN GET AN NBA FRANCHISE BECAUSE BRUCE HARRELL AND DEBORA JUAREZ ALLOWED FOR THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO BE VIOLATED AT CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA WITH A 1960s ERA CRACKED ROOFTOP AS IF THERE'S SOMETHING ICONIC ABOUT COLD WAR CONCRETE, YET THANKS TO DEBORA JUAREZ AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT AT THE TIME BRUCE HARRELL, THEY CIRCUMVENTED THE SCIENCE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT IT FROM THE COUNCIL TO BYPASS THE SCRUTINY AND IMPROVE -- EXCUSE ME, AND APPROVED PERMITS TO HOLD UP THE UNSTABLE WALL THAT CRACKED, AKA CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA. WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE CITY CHAPTER THAT NEVER HAD THE -- >> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL REMOTE SPEAKERS PRESENT. >> WE HAVE ONE MORE IN- PERSON SPEAKER, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING BACK TO IN- PERSON SPEAKERS AND WE HAVE NICHOLAS JEFFIRES. >> I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING AA GOOD MORNING. I'M TESTIFYING AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND FORMER EDUCATOR. I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE AMAZING DISTRICT 3. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH NILU, AND, LET ME TELL YOU, SHE IS SIMPLY AMAZING. SHE'S THE REAL DEAL. WHEN I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING, WHEN I'M HAVING A ROUGH DAY, SHE'S A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT I CALL ON TO HELP EDUCATE ME ON WHAT WE'RE DOING CIVICALLY. I SAW HER AT BLACK ART DAY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMEBODY JUMP FOR JOY ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMEBODY JUMP WHILE TALKING ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING, WHILE TALKING ABOUT VOUCHERS IN A WAY THAT GETS PEOPLE WHO AREN'T TRADITIONALLY ENGAGED CIVICALLY ENGAGED, EXCITED AND INVIGORATED. SHE TRULY SHOWS UP FOR THIS COMMUNITY. SHE TRULY LOVES THIS COMMUNITY, AND SHE TRULY LOVES ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EVEN IF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AREN'T ALWAYS SHOWING THE MOST LOVE BACK TO HER. SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUAL AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE HER APPOINTMENT TO THIS COUNCIL. SHE IS SIMPLY AMAZING AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS DOING A GREAT JOB. HAVE AN AMAZING DAY. >> WE ARE NOW AT THE END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT AND I BELIEVE WE'LL BE AT EASE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT. SO I MOVE TO ADOPT A VOTING PROCEDURE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION TO BE AS FOLLOWS. AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT I WILL MOVE TO NOMINATE ALL SIX FINALISTS AS CANDIDATE TO FILL COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION UNTIL A CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER 2026 GENERAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT 5 IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. AFTER THE MOTION IS SECONDED, COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE FACTORS OR CRITERIA THEY USED IN DECIDING WHOM TO SUPPORT AND OTHER INFORMATION THEY WISH TOTO BEFORE VOTING BEGINS. WHEN IT'S TIME TO VOTE ON APPOINTING ONE NOMINEE TO FILL THE VACANCY, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. COUNCILMEMBERS WILL RESPOND BY STATING ONE NOMINEE THEY WISH TO APPOINT. COUNCILMEMBERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR NOMINEE UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND OF VOTING SHOULD THERE BE ONE. IF ONE NOMINEE RECEIVES FIVE OR MORE VOTES, THEY WILL FILL THE DISTRICT 5 POSITION AND WILL ASSUME IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE. IF ONE DOES NOT RECEIVE FIVE VOTES, THEN WE WILL REPEAT THE VOTING PROCESS UNTIL ONE NOMINEE RECEIVES FIVE OR MORE VOTES. THIS IS THE SAME PROCEDURE WE HAVE DONE THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES, THE FIRST TWO TIMES IN FILLING A VACANCY, AND YOU RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING TODAY. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE PROPOSED VOTING PROCEDURE TO NOMINATE AND APPOINT THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION? >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE VOTING PROCEDURE TO NOMINATE AND APPOINT THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE VOTING PROCEDURE? ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING ANY. WILL THE -- JUST A SECOND. ONE MORE GLANCE. NOPE. ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE VOTING PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTING THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> I'M GOING TO BE COMING OFF MUTE RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU. >> PARDON ME? OKAY. GO ON. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE VOTING PROCEDURE TO APPOINT CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT WAS THE EASY PART. OKAY. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW VOTE TO FILL THE VACANT CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION. I MOVE TO NOMINATE ALL SIX FINALISTS AS CANDIDATES TO FILL COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION UNTIL A CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER 2026 GENERAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT 5 IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. THE NOMINEES ARE AS FOLLOWS. JAMES BOUREY, KATY HAIMA, NILU JENKS, DEBORA JUAREZ, JULIE KANG AND ROBERT WILSON. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO NOMINATE THE SIX FINALISTS AS CANDIDATES TO FILL THE COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION UNTIL A CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER 2026 GENERAL ELECTION IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. ALL RIGHT. NOW I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS AND AFTER COMMENTS WE'LL VOTE TO FILL THE VACANCY. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THESE SIX NOMINEES? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT HERE TO GIVE US FEEDBACK ON THIS APPOINTMENT. THIS IS MY THIRD TIME DOING THIS, AND EVERY TIME IT IS A DIFFICULT DECISION BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH GREAT CANDIDATES AND PEOPLE JUST WILLING TO STEP UP AND I'M ALWAYS HUMBLED BY THAT. AND AT THE SAME TIME I KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN THESE ARE DISTRICT POSITIONS TO REALLY ALLOW FOR THE DISTRICT MEMBERS TO DECIDE WHO THEY WANT TO REPRESENT THEM HERE SO THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT CHOICE BUT I KNOW THAT IN 2026 >> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THIS IS OUR ADDRESSING FOLKS BEFORE WE DO OUR VOTE? >> RIGHT. AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WILL WE SPEECHIFY IN BETWEEN ROUNDS IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE ROUND, NO. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE ROUND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND VOTE ONCE AND THEN WE'LL VOTE AGAIN. THE LAST TIME IT WAS AFTER THE THIRD ROUND THAT PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK AGAIN. >> UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. SO I WILL GO JUST SO WE'RE NOT KEEPING FOLKS IN SUSPENSE -- IS IT THE RIGHT WORD? SUSPENSE. OKAY. ONE THING I DON'T DO IS I DON'T TRY TO ACT LIKE I'M SMART UP HERE, AND SO, LIKE, I WILL BE VULNERABLE AND ASK, HEY, IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD? I'LL THROW THAT OUT THERE. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE, AND YOU'LL HEAR THAT A LOT. IT'S A LOT ON YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM. IT'S A LOT EMOTIONALLY. IT'S A LOT FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND IT'S ALSO A LOT JUST TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS, AND ESPECIALLY A NEW PROCESS. AND SO I JUST, LITERALLY JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE I JUST KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE LIKE, THAT NERVOUSNESS AND STUFF. I ENJOYED TALKING TO EVERYONE, AND I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS THAT I HEARD FROM DISTRICT 5 AND FROM YOU ALL. JAMES -- AND I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH THIS. AFTER GETTING TO TALK TO YOU, I HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS AND GOT TO KNOW FOLKS AND JUST YOUR UNDERSTANDING FOR THIS POSITION AND WHAT YOU WOULD BRING TO THETHE TABLE. JAMES, YOUR EXPERTISE IN TRANSPORTATION, IT WAS JUST OFF THE CHARTS, AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR WHAT, LIKE, YOU WANTED TO BRING TO THE TABLE ON THE TRANSPORTATION SIDE AND THAT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PIECE WAS PHENOMENAL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND EDUCATING ME ON THAT PIECE. KATY, THE KID- FRIENDLY PIECE WAS THE VIBES THAT I GOT, AND NOT JUST, LIKE, YOU KNOW -- YOU HELPED ME UNDERSTAND AND OPEN MY TO TALK ABOUT JUST, LIKE, THE DESIGN PIECE OF A KID-FRIENDLY CITY BUT ALSO, TOO, HEY, WE NEED MORE HOUSING WHERE YOU CAN BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR COURT YARD SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR KIDS PLAY AND THINKING ABOUT THAT PIECE, WHICH IT JUST UNLOCKED MY MIND. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT. AND THEN THE HOUSING, I TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSING VIBE THAT YOU ALWAYS WORE AND TALKED ABOUT THAT, TOO, AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. NILU, THANK YOU FOR THE -- OBVIOUSLY I'VE KNOWN YOU SINCE YOU RAN IN ALL OF THE FLAGS THAT YOU HAVE WORN BUT PARTICULARLY THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PIECE AND THE YOUTH COMPONENT OF GETTING OUR YOUTH AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING THAT YOU ADVOCATED FOR AND THAT IS GOING TO START HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL AND SOME STUFF WE AGREED ON. SOME STUFF THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR VALUES WERE SUPER ALIGNED AND OPENED MY MIND TO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ABOUT THINGS, ABOUT HOW WE CAN OPERATE AS A CITY AND YOUR PASSION IN SEEING HOW YOU WANT TO LEAD THE CITY, I THOUGHT, WAS TREMENDOUS. SO THANK YOU. DEBORA, I LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU JUST SITTING DOWN AND TALKING TO YOU AND WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE. OBVIOUSLY YOUR EXPERIENCE AND THEN, MOST IMPORTANTLY, JUST YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE HISTORICAL COMPONENT TO THINGS AND HOW TO NAVIGATE THINGS AND I THOUGHT HAS JUST BEEN VERY UPLIFTING AND EYE OPENING AND HEALING PIECE, CALMING NERVOUS SYSTEMS IS GREAT. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, DR. KANG, JULIE, I GET THAT MOTHERLY FIGURE, THAT CARING, THAT NURTURING COMPONENT FROM YOU, HOW YOU ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT YOUR STUDENTS. AND YOU INVITED ME OVER FOR SOME MEALS, AND THE COOKING THAT YOU DO FOR PEOPLE. IT REALLY STARTS -- WHEN YOU WANT TO GET TO SOMEONE'S HEART, IT STARTS THROUGH THEIR STOMACH. WE ALL KNOW THAT. GOOD FOOD, THOUGH. CAN'T BE BAD. IT HAS TO BE GOOD FOOD. AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LEAD AND JUST BEING EVERYWHERE. I'VE BEEN SEEING YOU EVERYWHERE, ALL OVER, ON FACEBOOK, BUT JUST IN PERSON, AT EVENTS AND CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE. YOU ALWAYS HAVE A SMILING FACE AND YOUR PRESENCE IS REALLY WELCOME AND GREAT. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, ALSO, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ROBERT. BY FAR, THE FUNNIEST CONVERSATION I HAD ON THE PHONE. THE FOLKS -- LITERALLY THE LEVITY THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE CONVERSATION BUT ALSO THE LOGISTICS AND HOW YOU ARE ABLE TO CONNECT DOTS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW COULD BE CONNECTED BUT BROUGHT THE JOKING PIECE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT DURING THIS TIME. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR BACKGROUND, TOO, IN THE MILITARY AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THAT PIECE AND HOW YOU WOULD APPLY IT TO HERE AND YOU'RE A FAMILY MAN. I THINK IT SPEAKS HIGHLY OF YOUR WIFE COMING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF YOU FOR THIS JOB. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AS WELL. AND JUST THANK ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LEAD AND REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IN TOUGH TIMES. I THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROCESS. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE FOLLOWING OUR COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND HOLLINGSWORTH, TO NOTE THAT WE HAD 22 GOOD CANDIDATES, VERY GOOD CANDIDATES, AND I BELIEVE FIVE CANDIDATES THAT I THINK COULD STEP UP AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNCIL, A STRONG SLATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AS I NOTED LAST WEEK AND STRONGER THAN THE OTHER RACES, AS I ALSO NOTED. AND I FIND IT INTERESTING AND THE REASONS WHY ARE WORTHWORTH EXAMINING BECAUSE THEY'RE A STRONGER SLATE THAN PAST RACES AS WELL. FOR THE FOUR CANDIDATES -- THE FIVE CANDIDATES THAT ARE NOT SELECTED TODAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RUN ININ '26 -- ACTUALLY, '27. I ACTUALLY ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LOOK TO VOLUNTEER. FOR EXAMPLE, WITH NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY COUNCILS WHICH PROVIDE SUCH GOOD INSIGHT ON ISSUES CITYWIDE BUT ALSO THE DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE, TOO. IN THE END I BELIEVE WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN STEP UP. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND WHEN WE HAVE AN EXTRA HIGH UPTEMPO WHICH IS HIGHER THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR. BETWEEN OUR COMMITTEES, OUR EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE EXTERNAL CHALLENGES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ALSO THE VARIOUS SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEES THAT WE'VE HAD AND THE UPCOMING BUDGET SEASON WHICH WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT. I SHOULD NOTE, TOO, REPRESENTATION IS ALSO IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S COME OUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS. AND WITH THAT I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. INITIALLY THE 22 WHO PUT THEIR NAMES FORWARD, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BUT, ALSO, FOR THE SIX OF YOU THERE TODAY I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AGAIN, ECHOING THOUGHTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE TO STEP UP, TO BE WILLING TO PUT YOURSELF THROUGH THIS PROCESS. KNOWING THAT YOU'RE STEPPING IN AT A TIME WHERE WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON LOCALLY, FEDERALLY, THAT WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH. THE ONE THING THAT I FOUND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IS THAT THERE IS NEVER NOT A FULL PLATE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'LL BE WALKING INTO. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH A LOT OF YOU CAN DIRECTLY AND LEARNED A LOT ABOUT YOU. LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU. SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS, GREAT INSIGHTS. YOU KNOW, MR. WILSON, IF YOU ARE SELECTED TO BE UP HERE, WE WOULD MAKE HISTORY FOR THE SECOND TIME BY HAVING FOUR VETERANS SEATED ON THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO BALANCE ANOTHER NAVY GUY ON HERE OR NOT, BUT THAT'S OKAY. I THINK, KATY, THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND THE WHOLE BIT, AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS I WANT TO PICK YOUR BRAIN IMMENSELY. JIM, YOU GAVE US HOMEWORK LAST WEEK TO TAKE WITH US, A THUMB DRIVE WITH A DOCUMENT THAT HAD I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEGABYTES IT WAS, HERE'S SOME LIGHT READING ABOUT NEWPORT NEWS. YEAH, THANKS, MAN. AND DR. KING, YOU HAD ME AT SEATTLE U, A SEATTLE U ALUM. THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN COMMUNITY AND, WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT YOU? YOU SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. I ASKED THAT QUESTION, WHAT'S YOUR WHY? WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB? AND WHAT BECAME CLEAR TO ME IS THAT YOU WANT TO BE HERE BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT THE CITY AND YOU CARE ABOUT ITS PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. I'M NOT LOOKING TO, YOU KNOW, USE THIS AS A STEPPING STONE TO GO ANYWHERE. I'M HERE BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY AND I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND I GET THE SAME SENSE FROM YOU ALL, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEART. AND REGARDLESS OF HOW THE VOTE SHAKES OUT TODAY, I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO CARE, AND I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY FINALIST WHO HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO APPLY. I REALLY APPRECIATED GETTING TO KNOW EACH OF YOU OVER OVER PAST FEW WEEKS, OVER THE COURSE OF THIS JOURNEY AND SPECIFICALLY MEETING WITH EACH OF YOU LAST WEEK. WE HAVE BEFORE US AN OUTSTANDING GROUP OF NOMINEES FOR THIS POSITION, AND I THINK EACH OF YOU OFFERS VITAL PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED ON THIS COUNCIL NOW MORE THAN EVER AT THIS PIVOTAL MOMENT IN TIME. AGAIN, I SINCERELY THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND DESIRE TO SERVE NO MATTER WHO WAS SELECTED TODAY. I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU WILL CONTINUE LEADING OUR CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SHARE OF WORK ACROSS THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND BE LEADERS IN DISTRICT 5. UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY ONE PERSON WILL BE SUSPECTED TODAY. FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT SELECTED TODAY, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO RUN FOR THE PERMANENT SEAT NEXT YEAR. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, JAMES BOUREY, YOU BRING A RARE EXPERIENCE HAVING READ AND WORKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM NEWPORT AND SOUTH CAROLINA TO MINNEAPOLIS, MY BIRTH CITY, PHOENIX, CALIFORNIA, AND PROBABLY MORE. YOU'VE TACKLED COMPREHENSIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOMEHOW YOU'VE ALSO FOUND TIME TO PUBLISH THREE BOOKS AND OVER 40 ARTICLES TO SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS AND EXPERTISE. AND STILL SOMEHOW FOUND TIME TO BE AN EXPERT IN PUTTING THINGS DRIVES. I DIDN'T KNOW THUMB DRIVES WERE A THING ANYMORE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. KATY HAIMA, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I LOVE THAT YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, WITH REAL- WORLD PERSPECTIVES THAT ADDS A VITAL VOICE TO ECONOMIC -- I THINK YOUR BACKGROUND IN URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN SHINES THROUGH AND YOUR PASSION FOR WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, MORE SIDEWALKS, YES, AND YOUR VISION FOR COLLABORATIVE VISION FOR AURORA AND D5 IS THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP WE NEED. I THINK PERSPECTIVE MATTERS AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE PERSPECTIVES THAT I THINK YOU WOULD BRING TO THE TABLE IN THIS POSITION ISIS FACT THAT YOU HAVE YOUNG KIDS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN AND YOUNGER. THERE'S A REASON WHY NOT MANY PEOPLE WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED KIDS AND YOUNGER END UP RUNNING AND SERVING IN THESE ROLES. IT'S CHALLENGING. BUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A PARENT WHO IS DOING THEIR BEST AND HAS BEEN DOING THEIR BEST AND WILL CONTINUE FOR A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY FOR ALL IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE. I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT AND SO MUCH MORE. NILU, YOUR LEADERSHIP, GRASSROOTS PASSION AND RELENTLESS ENERGY ARE TRULY UNMATCHED. YOU'VE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN UP FOR D5 NEIGHBORHOODS, THE BIG, THE SMALL, AND REALLY EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN WITH HAIR INTACT, IN MY VIEW, WHAT SETS YOU APART IS HOW DEEPLY PERSONAL YOUR ADVOCACY IS. WHETHER IT'S TUTORING IMMIGRANT REFUGEE YOUTH, FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE AS AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER, COLLABORATING WITH EDUCATORS OR CHAMPIONING -- YOU UPLIFTING VOICES THAT ARE TOO OFTEN GO UNHEARD IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT, VALUABLE. MOVING ON NOW TO DEBORA JUAREZ. YOUR LEGACY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. YOU'VE BEEN AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SERVANT. IN YOUR DECISION TO STEP UP AGAIN IN THIS CAPACITY FULLY MINDFUL AND AWARE OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT WE ALL FACE, LIKE ANY OF THE OTHER FIVE CANDIDATES, SAYS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR LOVE FOR THE CITY. AND YOU'VE BEEN BACKED BY LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AS PART OF THE PROCESS INCLUDING MLK LABOR AND SEATTLE BILLING TRADES, BUT YOUR PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP, EXPERIENCE AND JUDGMENT ARE SOME OF WHAT THE CITY NEEDS ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW. DR. JULIE KANG, YOUR FOCUS ON THE BASICS RESONATES WITH ME PERSONALLY. YOUR UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION IN DISTRICT 5 FROM MISSING SIDEWALKS, WALKABILITY, SAFETY FOR FAMILIES AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICES, MOST CHALLENGES REQUIRE NUANCE AND NONBINARY THINKING AND ALL THESE ISSUES ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX, WE NEED TO MOVE BEYOND THE BINARY THINKING, THAT IS A TREMENDOUSLY VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED ABOUT HOW WELL RESEARCHED AND QUICKLY UP TO SPEED YOU GOT ON ALL THE ISSUES FACING DISTRICT 5 AND THE ENTIRE CITY. AN ESSENTIAL QUALITY FOR SERVING ON A COUNCIL WITH A CONSTANT LEARNING CURVE. I THINK THIS ROLE, THE WORD ON COUNCIL IS SORT OF LIKE A PIE EATING CONTEST. THE LOSERS OR RUNNERS- UP, THE CONSOLATION IS MORE PIE. AND THE WINNERS, MORE PIE. AND I THINK YOU ARE READY TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE NOW OR NEXT YEAR OR BEYOND. MR. ROBERT WILSON. ROB, AS MY NOMINEE I RECOGNIZE THE MANY IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVES THAT YOU BRING -- A VETERAN A FAMILY MAN, BEING A FATHER OF THREE, A PRIVATE SECTOR TECH MANAGER, LEADER, JUST AS IMPORTANT A DEDICATED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER. YOU BRING A FRESH FACE AND UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES. YOUR RESPONSES BOTH IN WRITING AND AT THE FORUM, IN MY OFFICE WHEN WE MET ONE-ON- ONE, SHOWED, IN MY VIEW, THOUGHTFULNESS DEPTH, NEVER FALLING BACK ON EASIER OR SCRIPTED ANSWERS, AND ONE STANDOUT EXAMPLE WAS YOUR SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING THE COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS INCLUDING THE CAREFUL, INTENTIONAL EXPANSION OF CCTV. ALL ARE IMPORTANT. THE VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES THAT YOU REPRESENT ALL MATTER AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN ONLY INCLUDE ONE. I DO WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN THIS MANNER. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER HANDS UP? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF. COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, YOU ALL KNOW I WILL NOT WAX POETIC TODAY ABOUT MY CONNECTION AND LOVE FOR D5. WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE AND WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS TO DO. D5, DISTRICT 5 HAS BEEN LONG UNDERINVESTED FOR DECADES. WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY IS NOT A PRODUCT OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVERNIGHT AND BEFORE COUNCIL DISTRICTS WERE IN PLACE, I FOUND IT WAS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATORS WERE THE ONES DOING THE CONSTITUENT CASE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE NORTH END OF SEATTLE BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO GET THE ATTENTION OF CITY HALL IN LAKE CITY. WHEN I WENT TO COOL IN LAKE CITY IN DISTRICT 5, WE WALKED TO SCHOOL -- WHEN WE WALKED TO SCHOOL, WE KICKED ROCKS BECAUSE WE WERE WALKING ON GRAVEL THAT WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE ARE SIDEWALKS THERE TODAY. CATCHING THE BUS, WE WERE LITERALLY ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY, STATE ROUTE 522 WITH A 3- INCH PAINT STRIP THE ONLY THING SEPARATING THE SPEEDING CARS FROM WHERE WE SAT WAITING FOR THE BUS. TODAY THERE ARE SIDEWALKS. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE SINCE COUNCIL DISTRICTS BECAME A PART OF OUR CITY FABRIC, MORE INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES HAVE BEEN DEDICATED. MORE CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN RESPONDED TO, AND ATTENTION TO NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFICS, PINEHURST IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN MEADOWBROOK OR WEDGWOOD BUT MATTHEWS BEACH IS RIGHT THERE. AND THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE TO DO FOR DISTRICT 5 WHICH IS WHY I'M SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE APPLICANTS AND FOR THOSE THAT APPLIED THAT AREN'T HERE AS FINALISTS TODAY. BRANDON, JED, SO MANY LEADERS IN D5 THAT DIDN'T APPLY. WHAT I FOUND WHEN INTERVIEWING THE FINALISTS BEFORE ME TODAY, ROB, YOUR LIFELONG LEARNING AND HUMBLE INTELLIGENCE INVITED ME TO WANT TO WORK WITH YOU MORE DEEPLY. GETTING TO SEE YOUR DRIVE, PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO DISTRICT 5 GAVE ME HOPE AND GAVE ME INSPIRATION. JIM, YOUR PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR NEWPORT NEWS ARE ASTONISHING AND AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR THAT THUMB DRIVE. I'VE STILL GOT IT AND I'M GOING TO KEEP IT FOR A LONG TIME, BECAUSE IT REALLY DEMONSTRATED HOW YOU WEREWERE TO TELL THE STORY OF NEWPORT NEWS THROUGH BOTH THE STORY BUT ALSO THE NUMBERS AND THEN TRACKING THAT YEAR OVER YEAR. NILU, YOUR CONNECTION TO D5 RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY I'VE SEEN AT WORK FOR YEARS AND IT'S THIS AGGRESSIVE TENACITY FOR THE MICRO COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP DISTRICT 5. JULIE, IF I GOT ONE THING OUT OF THIS PROCESS, IT WAS GETTING TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND GETTING TO BE WHAT I CONSIDER A FRIEND. YOU HAVE SUPPORTERS ALL ACROSS D5. I LIKE WILLIE A LOT AND WHEN I WAS SPEAKING WITH YOU I IMMEDIATELY FELT LIKE WE COULD TACKLE ANYTHING THIS WORLD HAS THROWN AT FUSS WE WORK TOGETHER. I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. DEBORA JUAREZ, I THINK THAT'S THE TITLE WE USE TODAY, WHICH IS THE BEST PARTS ABOUT GETTING TO WORK AROUND YOU WAS GETTING TO WATCH LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE AND THIS STARTED BEFORE I WAS ACTUALLY ELECTED. FOLKS, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, I DO OFFICE HOURS EVERY WEEK IN MY DISTRICT OFFICE. THAT WAS SOMETHING I TOOK OUT OF YOUR BOOK. YOU HAD OFFICE HOURS AT NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE AND YOU FOUND AN OFFICE SPACE AND SO THAT HAS CHANGED THE WAY THAT I RELATE TO DISTRICT 6 IN SO MANY WAYS. FOLKS, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE SECRET TO NAVIGATING THE BUDGET PROCESS, GO BACK AND WATCH THE CANDIDATE FORUM AT NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE, DEBORA JUAREZ SHARES IT WITH EVERYONE. I'M NOT GOING TO SHARE IT HERE. YOU HAVE TO GO DO YOUR HOMEWORK. THERE ARE STILL THREE THINGS THAT I -- YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THOSE RESOURCES, IT WAS WHEN I GOT TO WORK FOR THE 46th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, IT'S STILL NOT DESPITE EVERYTHING YOU DID TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, NOW WE JUST HAVE TO GET THE THING BUILT. THE NORTH GATE COMMONS, THE HOUSING THERE AT THE SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE SIMON REDEVELOPMENT, BEYOND WHAT OTHER POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO GET TO MAKE D5 THE GEM OF THE CITY THAT IT DESERVES TO BE. I DID NOT WRITE A CLOSING BEYOND THAT. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. >> ALL RIGHT. LOOKING AGAIN TO SEE IF ANYBODY HAS A SECOND THOUGHT. ALL RIGHT. NO OTHER -- NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. I WILL -- JUST A SECOND. MY SCRIPT WENT AWAY. I'LL JUST BRIEFLY SAY AS WELL THANK YOU TO, FIRST OF ALL, TO ALL 22 CANDIDATES WHO STEPPED UP. NOT AN EASY TASK TO THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING AND ESPECIALLY TO THE SIX FINALIST WHO IS STUCK IT OUT TO THE VERY END. I AM GOING INTO THIS DECISION WITH THE SAME MIND- SET I'VE HAD THE LAST TWO VACANCY FILLING PROCESSES WHICH IS KEEP AN OPEN MIND BUT ALSO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU BELIEVE THE DISTRICT 5 -- OR THE CONSTITUENTS OF THAT DISTRICT WANT MOST OF ALL. SO I AM, AFTER SPEAKING WITH MOST OF THE CANDIDATES AND ALSO HEARING WHAT THE DISTRICT 5 CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN SAYING, NOT JUST THIS PAST FOUR WEEKS BUT ALSO SINCE I'VE TAKEN OFFICE, THAT IS WHAT IS DRIVING MY DECISION. AND HERE IS WHAT I HAVE HEARD. HELP THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES. SO LOOKING AT YOU, GABE, WHEREVER YOU ARE. WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT THE SMALL BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY ALONG LAKE CITY, THE LAKE CITY CORRIDOR AND ALSO 35th AVENUE NORTHEAST, WHICH BRIDGES 4th AND 5th, A LOT OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES FEEL CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE CITY. IT'S SO FAR NORTH ALREADY. IT'S DIFFICULT TO FEEL CONNECTED TO THE FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN IT COMES -- BECAUSE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT DOWNTOWN, THE CIV ET CETERA, BUT THEY ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH SOME REPEATED BREAK-INS AND REALLY WANT SOMEONE WHO IS AWARE OF AND WILLING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. AND WHAT I ALWAYS HEAR IS, CAN YOU PLEASE COMMUNICATE TO THE EXECUTIVE THAT WE NEEDNEED PATROLS, MORE ATTENTION FOCUSED ON THE THINGS WE'RE GOING THROUGH OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN UP HERE. THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, HOW DO WE GET AT THAT? THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF ADDRESSING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY THROUGH INCREASED SUPPLY, THROUGH INCREASED INVESTMENTS INTO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERS, ET CETERA, BUT I'VE TAKEN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH AND SAY WE NEED TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY THROUGH ZONING, THROUGH MAKING HOUSING CHEAPER AND EASIER TO BUILD AND, ALSO, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF SUPPORTING WORKFORCE HOUSING HOME OWNERSHIP, A BIG TOPIC UP THERE AND, OF COURSE, THINKING ABOUT HOW THE CANDIDATE THAT DOES GET THIS APPOINTMENT REALLY DOES HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT. I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ALSO BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THAT AS WELL. SO WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THAT ISSUE. AND THEN FINALLY THERE ARE A LOT OF SERVICES FOR LOW- INCOME AND HOMELESSNESS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS UP THERE AND WHAT I HEAR FROM DISTRICT 5 CONSTITUENTS AND BUSINESSES BUT CONSTITUENTS IS, YES, WE ARE A COMPASSIONATE DISTRICT, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACTUAL SOLUTIONS OR OUR APPROACH TO DEALING WITH CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND IT'S TIED TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BUT IT'S ALSO JUST -- WHAT I HEAR IS -- I'LL BE FRANK. WE'VE BEEN CALLING HOMELESSNESS AN EMERGENCY FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, OVER TEN YEARS, ET CETERA, AND THE PROBLEM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GETTING BETTER. IT STAYS THE SAME OR GETS WORSE, AND SO WHAT IS THE CITY GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT? AND I HEAR WHAT I HAVE ALSO SAID WHICH IS LOOK AT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, THE FENTANYL EPIDEMIC. CAN WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT? I HAVE ALWAYS -- THIS IS CONVENIENT FOR ME BECAUSE OF COURSE I BELIEVE THAT ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE -- SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND THE FENTANYL CRISIS ARE DRIVERS OF SO MANY OF OUR OTHER ISSUES, CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY, ET CETERA. I AGREE WITH THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WANT SOMEBODY WHOWHO FULLY AWARE OF THOSE -- OF THAT ISSUE AND IS WILLING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, AND IF IT'S NOT WORKING THEN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR REALLY DOUBLE DOWN ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT -- THOSE AREN'T THE ONLY THINGS THAT I HEAR ABOUT. THERE'S ALSO TRANSPORTATION, OF COURSE, WHAT'S GOING ON ON AURORA WAY. WE WENT WITH AURORA REIMAGINED. I WON'T GO DOWN THE LAUNDRY LIST BUT DISTRICT 5 BECAUSE OF ITS DISTANCE FROM CITY HALL DOES HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES, AND WE REALLY DO NEED, AS A BODY, TO FOCUS ON THEIR CONCERNS AND PERSPECTIVES. SO THAT IS WHERE I'M COMING FROM. SO NOT ONLY DO I THANK THE CANDIDATES, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CONSTITUENTS THAT TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THEYTHEY EXPERIENCING AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN A LEADER. ALL RIGHT. SO, WITH THAT, LET'S MOVE ON. AS A REMINDER ON THE VOTING PROCESS, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL AND COUNCILMEMBERS WILL RESPOND BY STATING ONE OF THE SIX NOMINEES' NAMES. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO APPOINT A NOMINEE TO FILL COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION UNTIL A CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER 2026 GENERAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT 5 IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. >> NILU JENKS. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> DEBORA JUAREZ. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> DEBORA JUAREZ. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> DEBORA JUAREZ. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. >> DEBORA JUAREZ, DISTRICT 5. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> DEBORA JUAREZ, DISTRICT 5. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> DEBORA JUAREZ. >> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. >> DEBORA JUAREZ. >> THAT IS ONE IN FAVOR OF JENKS AND SEVEN IN FAVOR OF JUAREZ. >> ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A SELECTION. OKAY. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. DEBORA JUAREZ HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO FILL COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 UNTIL A CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER 2026 GENERAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT 5 IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DEBORA JUAREZ TO COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM. [ APPLAUSE ] >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, POINT OF INFORMATION. >> YOU HAVE TO ASK HER TO ACCEPT THE POSITION. >> WOULD YOU LIKE -- >> I'VE GOT. HOLD ON A SECOND. I HAVE TO FORMALLY -- WAIT A MINUTE, PLEASE. NO, GO AHEAD. I JUST HAVE -- THE CITY COUNCIL -- SO THE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPOINTED YOU AS COUNCILMEMBER TO THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION UNTIL A CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER 2026 GENERAL ELECTION IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. DO YOU ACCEPT THIS POSITION? >> YES, I DO. >> EXCELLENT. CONGRATULATIONS, DEBORA. CONGRATULATIONS, DEBORA, ON BEING APPOINTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 POSITION. YOU ARE NOW -- WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US AT THE DAIS AND THE CITY CLERK WILL ADMINISTER YOUR YOUR OF OFFICE. AFTER THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENT. SO WE WILL BE AT EASE TO PREPARE FOR THE OATH OF OFFICE AT THE DAIS. >>> WILL YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I DEBORA JUAREZ SWEAR THAT I POSSESS ALL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS -- >> SWEAR THAT I POSSESS ALL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS -- >> PRESCRIBED IN THE SEATTLE CITY CHARTER AND THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE FOR THE POSITION OF CITY COUNCILMEMBER. >> FOR THE POSITION OF CITY COUNCILMEMBER. >> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. >> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. >> AND THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. >> AND THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. >> AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY CONDUCT MYSELF AS SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. >> AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY CONDUCT MYSELF AS A SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMEMBER. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. [ INAUDIBLE ]. >> IT'S A MAGNET, RIGHT? [ INAUDIBLE ] >> YOU SPELLED MY NAME RIGHT. >> THANK YOU. OH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BEFORE I BEGIN I WANT TO THANK CHIEF SEATTLE, WHAT THIS CITY IS NAMED FROM. I THINK PEOPLE THOUGHT I WALKED INTO THIS ROOM THINKING THIS WAS MINE. I'VE NEVER WALKED INTO A ROOM THINKING ANYTHING IS MINE. AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK JAMES AND ROB, DR. JULIE KANG KATY AND NILU. I KNOW IT WAS REALLY NERVE- RACKING AND DIFFICULT, AND I ENJOYED MEETING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE 2026 YEAR WHEN SOMEBODY RUNS, HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU, FOR THIS OFFICE FOR FOUR YEARS TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT THIS IS DEMOCRACY. I HAD ONE GOAL, AND I MEANT IT WHEN I SAID IT, THAT I DID NOT WANT TO FEEL LIKE AA COWARD, THAT I TOOK THE EMOTION TO FEEL BRAVE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE BECAUSE OF THE CALIFORNIA SENATOR ALEX PADILLA, WHEN HE WAS THROWN ON THE GROUND AND HANDCUFFED AND HE WAS SCREAMING, I'M A SENATOR, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW. SO, WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK THE TRIBES, TRIBAL LEADERSHIP, AND THE ELDERS, ALL THE INDIGENOUS LED ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS CITY. I WANT TO THANK BUSINESS. I WANT TO THANK LABOR. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE NONPROFIT BUSINESSES THAT I WORKED WITH AND FOR AND REPRESENTED. AND, AGAIN, I WILL SHARE WHAT MY MOTHER ALWAYS USED TO SAY, I'M NOT THE SMARTEST PERSON. I'VE JUST LIVED LONGER. AND THERE IS A LOT OF WISDOM IN GOING THROUGH ADVERSITY, CHALLENGES, AND SOMETIMES GROWING UP WITHOUT PRIVILEGE GIVES YOU POWER BECAUSE YOU LEARN STRATEGIES TO SUCCEED. AND ONE LAST NOTE I WANT TO SHARE, WHICH I'VE LEARNED FROM MY ELDERS IS THERE ISN'T ONE LEADER. IT'S LIKE A FLOCK OF BIRDS. LEADERSHIP IS SHARED. EVERYONE UP HERE IS A LEADER. ALL OF YOU ARE LEADERS, AND I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU AND TALK TO YOU AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL AND REPRESENTING DISTRICT 5 WAS A GREAT HONOR WHEN I WAS ELECTED TWICE, AND FOR SOME REASON, THIS FEELS MUCH MORE EMOTIONAL THAN THE OTHER TWO HARD- FOUGHT CAMPAIGNS. AND FOR THAT, THANK YOU. I RAISE MY HANDS, THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] [ INAUDIBLE ] >> I'M GETTING THERE. ALL RIGHT. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. WE HAVE FINISHED OUR NOMINATION PROCESS FOR THE DISTRICT 5 SEAT. AND NOW I WILL ASK IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL? I WOULD JUST SAY IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR AGENDA TODAY. IT IS 11:11. I HAD TO SAY THAT BEFORE IT CHANGED. IT'S 11:11 AND THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET AGAIN TOMORROW, JULY 29, AT 2:00 P.M. AND STILL HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED, EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.