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CHAIR, --
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK: COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
WE ARE GOING TO RUN THIS AS A: WE ARE GOING TO RUN THIS AS A
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AND NOT A
FORMAL MEETING SINCE WE ARE ALL
HERE TOGETHER. I WANT TO ECHO
WITH THE CHAIR SAID. THANK YOU
FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR
DAY TO COME DOWN. I'M
DISAPPOINTED WE ARE UNABLE TO
TAKE ACTION TODAY, LOSING QUORUM
FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING.
IT FEELS SUSPECT. AS THE ONLY
RENTER AS PART OF THIS BODY I
THINK IT'S TREMENDOUSLY
IMPORTANT THAT RENTER
PERSPECTIVES ARE HURT SO WE WANT
TO BE SURE WE HEAR FROM YOU
TODAY AT THE VERY LEAST. CHAIR,
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO INVITE THE
PROSPECTIVE APPOINTEES TO THE
TABLE ARE WE WANT TO TRY TO USE
THE MICROPHONES AT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT AREA, I WILL LET THAT BE
YOUR DECISION BUT I WANT TO
VOICE AGAIN MY GRATITUDE FOR
EVERYONE TAKING TIME TO BE HERE
TODAY. WE WILL MAKE SURE
EVERYONE IS HEARD. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE
JUST HAVING A COMMUNITY
DISCUSSION. PLEASE JOIN US AT
THE TABLE . WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS, YES.
[ INAUDIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
THANK YOU, CHAIR SOLOMON AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR HAVING
US AT THIS DISCUSSION. IF IT'S
OKAY WITH YOU MAYBE WE CAN START
WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE
SUBMITTED FOR APPOINTMENTS. THEY
WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEIR
BIOS AND WHY THEY ARE INTERESTED
SERVING ON THE COMMISSION. I
THINK WE ARE JOINED BY A FEW
PEOPLE ONLINE AS WELL. I CAN
READ OUT ANY OF THE REMAINING
BIOS .
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOR OUR
EDIFICATION, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF . AS YOU GO AROUND, WE
WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
I AM LAURA JENKINS WITH THE: I AM LAURA JENKINS WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
MY NAME IS LIZ. I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR ,
EDGEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE
TO GIVE A COUPLE OF INTRODUCTORY
THOUGHTS ABOUT BEING PART OF THE
COMMISSION . JUST SOME THINGS TO
SAY. I AM A RENTER IN THE CITY.
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A LOT OF THE
CHALLENGES MANY OF US FACE
NAVIGATING RESOURCES. TRYING TO
ADAPT TO RISING COSTS AND
SEARCHING FOR SUPPORT AND A LOT
OF THE OVERWHELMING SYSTEMS .
PROFESSIONALLY, I WORK IN
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT. MY DAILY
WORK IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN
SIMPLIFYING COMPLEX INFORMATION
AND MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE FOR
EVERYONE. THIS IS SOMETHING I
WOULD LOVE TO FOCUS ON AS PART
OF THE COMMISSION, TAKING THAT
INFORMATION OUT THERE AND MAKING
IT ACCESSIBLE FOR FOLKS. I'VE
ALSO HAD A LOT OF WORK IN
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT, MOSTLY VOTER
ENGAGEMENT AS WELL AS SUPPORTING
ISSUE CAMPAIGNS WHERE I LIVED
PREVIOUSLY BEFORE I MOVED TO
SEATTLE . THAT IS SOMETHING I
WOULD LOVE TO DO HERE AS A
RESIDENT OF THE CITY. I LOVE TO
HELP OTHERS AND EMPOWER FOLKS.
AS PART OF THIS COMMISSION MUCH
OF IT WOULD BE MAKING SURE
PEOPLE HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY
NEED AND KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
HEARING US . MY NAME IS ALLAN
FRANCIS. I AM A RENTER. MY
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, BOARD
OF DIRECTORS SEATTLE HOUSING
RESOURCES . THE NEIGHBORS
EDUCATION FUND. WHY AM I HERE? A
YEAR AGO I WAS ABLE TO SIGN THE
RENTAL AGREEMENT TO LIVE IN THE
ROOSEVELT DISTRICT. THAT IS
PRETTY SPECTACULAR TO ME BECAUSE
IT HAD BEEN AT LEAST 12 YEARS
BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO SEE MY
NAME ON A RENTAL AGREEMENT SO
THAT WAS HUGE. A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND. TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH
HOMELESSNESS , DISABILITY, EVERY
DAY POVERTY . IN 2002 I HAD A
BRIEF RUN THROUGH WITH THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND
MENTAL HEALTH . I AM ON
MEDICATION , PARTICIPATING IN
THERAPY. I AM ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF IT. WHY AM I APPLYING FOR THE
RENTERS COMMISSION? PEOPLE WHO
ARE OFTEN UNHEARD FOR VARIOUS
REASONS BECAUSE OF THE STRUGGLES
OR BECAUSE THEY PERCEIVE
THEMSELVES NOT CAPABLE BECAUSE
OF THE STRUGGLES. I WANT TO HAVE
A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO HELP WITH
RESOURCES FOR THOSE PEOPLE AND
MAYBE ALONG THE WAY ENCOURAGE
SOMEBODY TO FIND THEIR VOICE AND
SIT AT THIS TABLE TOMORROW AND
BE THAT VOICE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. I USE HE/AND
PRONOUNS. I AM SUPER EXCITED TO
BE A POTENTIAL APPOINTEE FOR THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION.
GROWING UP I DID NOT LIVE IN A
STABLE HOME. I EVENTUALLY ENTER
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND I WAS
17 YEARS OLD. WE TALK ABOUT
STATISTICS WERE FOSTER YOUTH
FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS . FOR ME
THANKFULLY FOSTER CARE SAVED MY
LIFE. PEOPLE LIKE YOU GAVE ME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE MY
STABILITY. THANK YOU. THE POLICY
YOU PAST REALLY DOES SAVE LIVES.
THIS WORK IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE
TAKEN LIGHTLY. I'VE BEEN
BLESSED WITH AN AMAZING CAREER
SINCE EXITING FOSTER CARE. I
EXITED INTO HOMELESSNESS. WHEN I
WAS 20 YEARS OLD, I WAS NEARING
THE AGE CLIFF FOR THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM WHICH IS 21 YEARS
OLD. I TRIED CALLING RESOURCE
AFTER RESOURCE FOR SUPPORT BUT
NOTHING CAME THROUGH. I ENTERED
HOMELESSNESS UNTIL I SAVED UP
ENOUGH MONEY TO MOVE INTO AN
APARTMENT. IT WAS AN AFFORDABLE
MICRO STUDIO . I CAN SAY WITHOUT
A DOUBT THAT THE MICRO STUDIO
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 190 SQUARE
FEET, SAVED MY LIFE. I AM EAGER
TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND
IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS TO LIFT MORE
PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY THROUGH
HOUSING. MORE PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
RENT THEN OWN A HOME. THERE'S A
LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AHEAD AND WE
ARE REALLY THANKFUL TO THE TWO
OF YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO
COLLABORATE. WE HOPE THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL FOLLOW SUIT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A LEADER AND
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR
RENTERS AND THANK YOU FOR
STANDING UP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
HOUSING INSECURE.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JULISSA SANCHEZ. SHE/HER
PRONOUNS. I HAVE BEEN PART OF
THE SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. BEFORE
THAT I WORKED FOR THE TENANTS
UNION AS A TENANTS RIGHTS
EDUCATOR AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER. IT WAS DURING THE
FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION . A
LOT OF MY COMMUNITY, THE
UNDOCUMENTED MEXICAN LATINO
MIXED STATUS COMMUNITY WERE
THREATENED BY LANDLORDS FOR
I.C.E. TO BE CALLED ON THEM IF
THEY KEPT ASKING FOR REPAIRS. A
LOT OF THEM RECEIVED A PAY OR
VACATE OR VACATE AND EVICTION
NOTICES BECAUSE THEY KEPT ASKING
FOR TENANT PROTECTIONS AND
RIGHTS. EXCUSE ME. BECAUSE I AM
PERSISTING THROUGH A COLD . I AM
HERE TO BE REINSTATED TO THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION
BECAUSE EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
TO RENTERS WHO ENGLISH IS NOT
THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE OR WHO MAY
NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AT ALL ARE
OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THE TABLE OR
OUT OF ACCESS TO DIFFERENT
RESOURCES. I THANK YOU FOR
HOLDING THIS MEETING TODAY AND I
AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DID
NOT MEET QUORUM BECAUSE WE HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR TWO YEARS TO
EXPAND THE SEATTLE RENTERS
COMMISSION IT DOES SEEM VERY
DISRESPECTFUL. IT IS VERY
DISRESPECTFUL AND SEEMS QUITE
SUSPECT OR IT JUST ACTUALLY
DEMONSTRATES . I AM QUITE
EMOTIONAL ABOUT THAT. I AM HERE
BECAUSE I'M FIERCE AND I'M
HERE BECAUSE I'M A STRONG
ADVOCATE FOR RENTERS AS A SINGLE
MOM OF A STUDENT AT GARFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL. I FIGHT TOOTH AND
NAIL TO STAY IN CAPITOL HILL SO
HE CAN STAY WITH HIS FRIENDS. I
WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL
SINGLE MOMS THAT ARE WORKING
REALLY HARD TO STAY IN HOUSING.
WE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM
SEATTLE FROM WHEN I WAS A YOUNG
PERSON AS THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
WITH GENTRIFICATION AND NOW
BECAUSE THE RENT ARE TOO HIGH. I
AM HERE TO PASS THE MIC QUITE
LITERALLY TO OTHER TENANTS WHO
MAY NOT HAVE A SEAT AT THIS
TABLE.
GOOD MORNING . MY NAME IS E.
MANDISA SUBIRA. PART OF THE
REASON WHY I AM SO EXCITED TO BE
PART OF THE COMMISSION AND WAS
EXCITED WHEN I WAS APPOINTED A
YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND HAVE
BASICALLY HAD TO JUST SIT IN
MEETINGS AND NOT BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE, NOT BE ABLE TO
BRING MY SKILLS TO THE TABLE,
NOT BE ABLE TO BRING MY WISDOM
TO THE TABLE. AS A FILMMAKER AND
STORYTELLER NOT BEING ABLE TO
TELL THE STORIES OF THE RENTERS
IN OUR CITY . I LOOK AT THINGS
AS A COMPLETE WHOLE PERSPECTIVE.
I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND . I FIND
IT QUITE DISINGENUOUS THAT WE
HAVE A STADIUM COLD CLIMATE
PLEDGE ARENA BUT THERE'S NO
COMMITMENT TO BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH SAFE AND
SUSTAINABLE EQUIPMENT AND
BUILDING MATERIALS SO THAT
PEOPLE DO NOT GET SICK IN THESE
BUILDINGS AND THEN THEY BECOME A
BURDEN ON OUR MEDICAID SYSTEM.
THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT
NEED TO BE CONSIDERED . NOT JUST
THE RENTER, BUT LOOKING AT THEM
AS A HOLISTIC PERSON IN A
HOLISTIC ENVIRONMENT . I ALSO
HAVE PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I USED
TO BE A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
PERSON IN COMPTON, CALIFORNIA.
I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVIST ALL
AROUND THE COUNTRY. I FEEL THAT
ANY PLACE THAT HAS THE AUDACITY
TO NAME THEM -- THEMSELVES AFTER
MARTIN KING -- MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR. COUNTY THEY SHOULD BE
FOCUSED ON VISION. THE ONLY WAY
YOU CAN BUILD A VISION IS WITH
COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER WITH
THE POLITICIANS WHO I FEEL THAT
WE HAVE A LOT OF TREASURES AND
WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY
RESOURCES WE COULD BE TAPPING
INTO. FOR THE POLITICIANS, NOT
NECESSARILY UNDERSTANDING THAT
WE ARE HERE TO HELP AND WE WANT
TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND WE WANT
TO BUILD A VISION THAT IS WORTHY
OF THE REASON THAT WE BUILT THE
SPACE NEEDLE IN THE FIRST PLACE
IS TO BE A BEACON AND AN EXAMPLE
FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
CAN WE MOVE TO ONLINE? SALLY.
I AM SALLY KINNEY . THIS WILL
BE MY FIRST TENURE WITH THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION. AS
BACKGROUND, I GREW UP IN
CALIFORNIA. QUITE A LONG YEARS
AGO IN AN AREA OF MONTEREY
COUNTY THAT WAS THE GROWING
CAPITOL OF THE COUNTRY. IT WAS
ALSO AT THAT TIME HOME TO PEOPLE
FROM MEXICO AND FURTHER SOUTH
WHO LIVED IN SALINAS AND WORKED
THE FIELDS . I WENT TO SCHOOL
WITH THEIR CHILDREN . I SAW THE
LIVING CONDITIONS THERE. THIS
WAS BEFORE CESAR CHAVEZ, BEFORE
ANY CONCERN OF THE GREATER
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE LIVING
SITUATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WORK TO
HELP US GET OUR FOOD . THEY
LIVED IN SHACKS OUT IN THE
FIELDS RUN BY THE GROWERS . NO
ELECTRICITY, NO PLUMBING .
CHILDREN WERE OFTEN SICK. WHEN I
WAS VERY YOUNG I HAD GROWN UP IN
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE'S
LIVING SITUATIONS WERE REALLY
PRETTY BAD EXCEPT FOR THOSE OF
US WHO DID NOT HAVE TO WORK IN
THE FIELDS AND HAD OFFICE JOBS
OR OUR PARENTS HAD OFFICE JOBS.
THEY WERE ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAD
COME, FAMILIES WHO HAD COME FROM
ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA. THEY
LIVED IN SHACKS RIGHT ON THE
SALINAS RIVER AND WERE FLOODED
JUST ABOUT EVERY YEAR. THEN I
MOVED TO SACRAMENTO AND STARTED
WORKING FULL-TIME AFTER HIGH
SCHOOL . NO MONEY FOR COLLEGE
BECAUSE OF OUR FAMILIES DIVORCE
SITUATION. THEN I MOVED TO
SEATTLE. MY FIRST CHILD WAS
DIAGNOSED AS AUTISTIC AND HAD
OTHER MEDICAL SITUATIONS. SO I
HAVE BEEN HER ADVOCATE SINCE SHE
WAS BORN AND WORRIED ABOUT
HOUSING FOR HER WHEN SHE GOT
OLDER. SHE IS LIKELY NOW IN A
GOOD HOUSING SITUATION. A
WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION .
HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE IN HER
SITUATION ARE NOT LIVING IN A
GOOD SITUATION. THEY ARE STILL
IN THE CARE OF THEIR AGING
PARENTS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THEIR
CHILDREN WHEN THEY GO. I HAVE
BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST 20
YEARS WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ARE CONCERNED WITH HOMELESSNESS
BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN MY FOCUS.
THAT IS THE ENDPOINT OF NOT
HAVING A PLACE TO LIVE IS
LITERALLY ON THE STREETS. I LIVE
IN LAKE CITY IN DISTRICT 5 . I
HAVE BEEN A FOUNDING MEMBER OF
THE LAKE CITY TASK FORCE ON
HOMELESSNESS ALMOST 20 YEARS
AGO. I'M A FORMER BOARD MEMBER
OF THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS AND
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND I'M
CURRENTLY ON THE BOARD OF CAMP
UNITED WE STAND. AND AUTHORIZED
ENCAMPMENT BETWEEN SEATTLE AND
THE NORTH KING COUNTY AREA. WE
DO NOT HAVE ANY SUPPORT FROM
POLITICAL ENTITIES. NO GRANT
MONEY AND NONE OF THE
MUNICIPALITIES THAT WE MOVE
AROUND TO FUND US. SO WE ARE
BASICALLY THE ORGANIZERS AND
FIDUCIARIES AND EVERYTHING FOR
OUR CAMP. I SEE PEOPLE COME INTO
THE CAMP FROM ALL SORTS OF
BACKGROUNDS WHO HAVE FALLEN INTO
HOMELESSNESS AND ARE TRYING VERY
HARD TO GET OUT. I AM VERY
CONCERNED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT
GOING TO HAVE ANY HELP FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE
ESSENTIALLY ARE IT . THE CITY
THE STATE AND OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES IN WASHINGTON
STATE ARE UNDER THE GUN BOTH FOR
PROVIDING RESOURCES AT A TIME
WHEN THEIR BUDGETS ARE REALLY
STRANGE. I WANT TO WORK WITH THE
COMMISSION TO TRY, IN SEATTLE AT
LEAST TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED,
KEEP RENTERS HOUSED BECAUSE
RENTERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE IN
DANGER AND TO BRING THE CITY TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THAT MAY BE THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO
HERE NOW IS TO KEEP PEOPLE
HOUSED, KEEP THEM OFF THE STREET
AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR RENTERS
TO CONTINUE BEING RENTERS .
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US
TODAY. I AM REALLY EAGER TO WORK
WITH THE COMMISSION ON THIS SAD
SITUATION.
THANK YOU, SALLY. KATE.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY
NAME IS KATE RUBIN. I'M ONE OF
THE INTERIM COCHAIRS OF THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION. I'M
ONE OF FIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
HOLDING THE COMMISSION DOWN OVER
THE LAST 18 MONTHS. I'M ALSO
SOMEBODY WHO WORKS WITH RENTERS
IN MY DAILY WORK AT THE SEATTLE
WE DO RENTER EDUCATION AND
ORGANIZING AND EMPOWER RENTERS
TO GET MORE CYNICALLY INVOLVED
BECAUSE WE ARE BEING
SYSTEMICALLY SHUT OUT OF CITY
HALL WHICH FEELS LIKE SUCH A
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT, OF HOW
OUR VOICES REALLY DO NOT MATTER
TO THOSE IN POWER . I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 2. I AM A VOTER AND
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SEEING MY
COUNCILMEMBER YET AGAIN , BEING
DISRESPECTED AND SHUT OUT AND
NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE
THINGS FORWARD IN A VERY
INTENTIONAL WAY. I AM FEELING
VERY -- I AM ANGRY ABOUT ALL OF
THIS. -- I DO FEEL AN OBLIGATION
TO SEATTLE RENTERS TO HOLD IT
DOWN . I WAS SO LOOKING FORWARD
TO HAVING A FULLY SEATED
COMMISSION WHERE WE COULD TRY TO
MOVE POLICY . THE TEAM HAD
SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS AND LIFE
EXPERIENCES . IT TAKES A DIVERSE
GROUP OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE,
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES,
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS TO REALLY
REPRESENT THE SPECTRUM OF
RENTERS. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY. MIGHT NOT
HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS
IS REALLY HARD . WE ARE FUNDED
BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE . NOT
JUST FROM MY JOB BUT ACROSS THE
BOARD, 40%. RENTERS ARE REALLY
STRUGGLING . I'M DOING OKAY NOW
BECAUSE I AM EMPLOYED BUT I HAVE
TO LOOK AS GO LIVE WITH A
ROOMMATE. WE WOULD BE IN DIRE
STRAITS IF WE LOST OUR JOBS. MY
FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF
TURMOIL . MY YOUNGER BROTHER HAD
TO MOVE IN WITH MY AGING PARENTS
AFTER A SERIES OF DISASTERS AND
PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
MOVE OUT ANYTIME SOON . IT IS
REALLY SCARY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
THE FUTURE HOLDS ESPECIALLY WITH
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.
THEY ARE ATTACKING OUR TRANS
NEIGHBORS AND IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE NEIGHBORS. ANYONE WHO
MIGHT BE DIFFERENT OR MIGHT BE
AN EASY TARGET. THANK YOU FOR
INVITING ME TO THIS TABLE TODAY.
I WISH IT WERE UNDER BETTER
CIRCUMSTANCES.
LYDIA. AFTER LYDIA, LAUREN
YOU SAID WE HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT
ARE NOT ABLE TO JOIN US THAT YOU
WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT. IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME I KNOW THAT WE
HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS SOMETHING
TO PRESENT WHO DOES HAVE A HARD
STOP. WE WANT TO BE SURE WE GET
TO THAT . IF WE COULD JUST TAKE
A COUPLE MOMENTS TO TELL US
ABOUT YOU AND YOUR INTEREST IN
BEING ON THE COMMISSION. THEN WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE INFORMATION
ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE.
I AM LYDIA FELTY. I USE
SHE/HER PRONOUNS . I'M THE
CURRENT COCHAIR. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 3 AND A LIFELONG
RENTER. I WORK IN THE NONPROFIT
SECTOR. BEFORE THAT I WAS A
TEACHER. WORKING WITH FOLKS FROM
DIFFERENT PLACES AND AGE GROUPS
AND CIRCUMSTANCES. I'VE BEEN ON
THE RENTERS COMMISSION FOR ABOUT
TWO YEARS. I AM A STANDARD
MAYORAL EMPLOYED T -- APPOINTEE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO
MENTION TODAY IS KATE AND I HAVE
BEEN INTERIM COCHAIRS FOR A YEAR
NOW. WHEN THE PAST COCHAIRS,
WHEN THEIR TENURE ENDED, WE WERE
DECIDING ON NEW COCHAIRS BUT
THERE WERE ONLY FIVE OF US AND
SEVERAL PENDING SO IT DID NOT
FEEL RIGHT FOR US TO ELECT OUT
OF SUCH A SMALL GROUP WHO WOULD
BE THE COCHAIRS BEFORE THESE
PENDING COMMISSIONERS WERE ABLE
TO FILL IN THOSE ROLES. SO WE
JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO
CELEBRATED OUR ONE YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF BEING COCHAIRS
WITH THE SAME FIVE COMMISSIONERS
ON BOARD AND THE NOTE THAT ONE
IS MOVING FOR GRAD SCHOOL SOON
SO WE ARE ABOUT TO BE DOWN TO
FOUR. WE HAVE HAD -- I CHECKED
THE RECORD. WE RECOMMENDED IFOR
APPOINTMENT IN NOVEMBER 2023. MY
COLLEAGUES AND HOPEFUL
COLLEAGUES HAVE SHARED SO MANY
SALIENT POINTS. I ECHO EVERY BIT
OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AND
PASSION. I KNOW THAT WE ARE
SHORT ON TIME BUT AS WE COME UP
ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY TWO
LETTERS THAT WERE SENT TO CITY
COUNCIL, I WANTED TO READ A
COUPLE NOTES FROM IT. THIS WAS
SENT AUGUST 4, 2024. WE ARE
WRITING TO DEMAND IMMEDIATE
ACTION REGARDING THE
LONG-OVERDUE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION.
DESPITE OUR REQUEST SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE
COMMITTEE CHAIR HAS YET TO
REVIEW COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS
AND ADD IT TO AGENDAS. THIS IS
UNACCEPTABLE AND UNDERMINES THE
REPRESENTATION OF MORE THAN HALF
THE SEATTLE POPULATION. WE HAVE
ONLY SIX COMMISSIONERS OF THE
MANDATED 16. THE LACK OF BLACK
COMMISSIONERS IS ESPECIALLY
CONCERNING GIVING SEATTLE'S
HISTORY OF GENTRIFICATION. THE
CURRENT COMPOSITION FAILS TO
REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR
CITY . I WILL EDITORIALIZE FOR A
MOMENT TO ADD THE CURRENT
CLIMATE STATE AND TRULY NATIONAL
STATE OF EMERGENCY WE ARE IN AND
HOW MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ALL OF
THESE THINGS , OUR WORK IS AND
PUTTING POLICIES IN PLACE
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE
MORE RENTERS COMING. OUR ROLE
INCLUDES ISSUES ON POLICIES FOR
RENTERS SUCH AS HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY , ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. THE COUNCIL OF
BLACK ENGAGEMENT SHOWS A
MISGUIDED VIEW THAT IT CAN BE
IGNORED RATHER THAN A VALUABLE
COLLABORATOR FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE
GOVERNMENT OF OUR CITY. THE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE MUST PRIORITIZE THE
COMMITMENT OF NEW COMMISSIONERS
IMMEDIATELY. THE ONGOING NEGLECT
NOT ONLY HAMPERS OUR WORK BUT
ALSO INSULTS THE COMMUNITIES WE
AIM TO SERVE. I WILL JUST CLOSE
WITH A THANK YOU FOR THE
GRATITUDE THAT WE ARE ALL HERE.
WE WERE FINALLY PUT ON THE
AGENDA. I THINK THAT IS
NOTEWORTHY . JUST AGAIN ECHOING
THE DISAPPOINTMENT, ANGER,
FRUSTRATION AND PARTICULARLY FOR
ME THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
I'M SURE TOOK TIME OFF WORK AND
ARE PHYSICALLY AT CITY HALL IN
PERSON ON WEDNESDAY MORNING ONLY
TO HAVE THE MEETING DELAYED,
DELAYED, AND CANCELED AND NOW
BACK INTO THIS LIMBO OF NOT
KNOWING WHEN OR WHETHER
APPOINTMENTS WILL BE MADE. THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
LAURA: LAURA.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO ALL OF THE POTENTIAL
APPOINTEES THAT ARE HERE IN
PERSON, ONLINE. THANK YOU FOR
SHARING YOUR STORIES AND BEING
HERE. I WILL JUST READ THROUGH.
THERE ARE SIX REMAINING
APPOINTEES. I WILL JUST READ OUT
THEIR BIOS AND NAME THEM. JUST
LET ME KNOW AT ANY POINT IF YOU
NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
PORTION. I AM LAURA JENKINS THE
STAFF LIAISON FOR THE RENTERS
COMMISSION. I WORK IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
FIRST, WE HAVE ADORA BLUE. A
RENTER LIVING IN PINEHURST.
RAISED IN A WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND SO, AND MOVED TO SEATTLE
WHERE SHE EXPERIENCED RENTING IN
A LARGE VARIETY OF AREAS AND
ARRANGEMENTS. SHE BECAME
INVOLVED IN HOUSING ACTIVISM IN
2020 AND INSPIRED THE COVID-19
MUTUAL AID EFFORTS. EVENTUALLY
JOINED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT
B SEATTLE A LOCAL NONPROFIT.
MORE RECENTLY SHE STARTED
MULTIPLE RENT -- EFFORTS TO HELP
TRANS PEOPLE FLEEING FROM
PERSECUTION IN OTHER STATES WHEN
THEY MOVED TO WASHINGTON AND
SPECIFICALLY SEATTLE. LEADING TO
CREATING A CATCH NETWORK FOR
TEMPORARY HOUSING TO RELOCATE
TRANS-FOLKS WHO OFTEN WOULD
OTHERWISE END UP UNANNOUNCED.
TRANS PEOPLE ARE AND ESPECIALLY
HOUSING INSECURE POPULATION DUE
TO THE PREVALENCE OF LOSING
ACCESS TO FAMILY HOMES AND THE
FAMILY SUPPORT THAT WOULD ALLOW
FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT. IT'S
ALSO THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE THAT
MAKES SEATTLE A HARD PLACE TO
MOVE TO FOR DISADVANTAGED
PEOPLE. SHE WANTS TO REDUCE
BARRIERS AND MAKE SEATTLE NOT
JUST SAFE BUT ALSO ACCESSIBLE
FOR TRANS PEOPLE, DISABLED
PEOPLE AND PEOPLE BEING FORCED
TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES DUE TO
REGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT. NEXT UP
IS KASEY BURTON. CASEY IS AN
EXPERIENCED LANDLORD-TENANT LAW
ATTORNEY WOULD LIKE TO
CONTRIBUTE LEGAL SKILLS AND
SHAPE POLICIES TO ASSURE TENANTS
RIGHTS AND ENSURE FAIR
PRACTICES. SHE CAN ADVOCATE FOR
STRONGER LEGAL PROTECTIONS, HELP
IDENTIFY GAPS IN CURRENT LAWS
AND OFFER EXPERT LEGAL INSIGHT
ON ISSUES LIKE EVICTION
PREVENTION AND OTHER STANDARDS.
JOINING THE COMMISSION ALSO
PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY
LEADERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHER
PROFESSIONALS TO CREATE MORE
EQUITABLE HOUSING ENVIRONMENT
FOR RENTERS. NEXT IS ANGELA
O'BRIEN. RAISED IN SEATTLE AND
PASSIONATE ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE
DRIVEN BY A DEEP BELIEF IN
FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY. WITH A
BACKGROUND IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING SHE
BRINGS THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO
SOCIAL JUSTICE BY ADVOCATING AND
EDUCATING. HER COMMITMENT TO
POSITIVE CHANGES DEMONSTRATED
THROUGH ORGANIZING COMMUNITY
OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND
INFLUENCING POLICY CHANGE. AS A
CASE MANAGER FOR GOODWILL
DEDICATED TO FUTURE GOALS,
CREATING A MORE JUST AND
EQUITABLE WORLD FOR ALL. KAREN
TAYLOR IS A DISABLED RENTER IN
THE BEACON HILL AREA. LIVING ON
A FIXED INCOME FROM SSDI AND HER
20 YEARS AS A RENTER HAS DEALT
WITH VARIOUS ISSUES SUCH AS LACK
OF ACCESSIBLE UNITS, HAVING TO
SPEND 70% OF INCOME ON RENT AND
THE CONSTANT NEED TO FIND NEW
ROOMMATES TO AFFORD A PLACE TO
LIVE. SHE RENTS FROM A SMALL
LANDLORD AND IS PASSIONATE ABOUT
RENTER PROTECTIONS INCLUDING
RENTERS RENT FROM LANDLORD TO
MANAGE ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF
PROPERTIES AND EXTENDING TO SUB
LETTERS. AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE
TRANSIT WRITERS UNION . SHE
IMAGINES A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE
WHO NEEDS THEM HAS ACCESSIBLE
UNITS AND CAN LIVE ON THEIR OWN
IF THEY SO CHOOSE. SAMUEL
WOLFSON HAS LIVED IN SEATTLE HIS
ENTIRE LIFE AND SAW FIRSTHAND
THE EXPLOSION OF GROWTH THAT
CAME WITH THE NEWFOUND POSITION
AS A HUB FOR TECHNOLOGY. AS
SOMEONE WHO LOVES SEATTLE AND
WANTS TO SEE IT THRIVE HE
UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAKING HOUSING AFFORDABLE,
WELCOMING AND PLENTIFUL FOR THE
INCREASINGLY LARGE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE HERE.
LAST UP WE HAVE ANDREW , A
DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY,
PUBLIC HEALTH, AND HOUSING
JUSTICE WITH DEEP ROOTS IN
SEATTLE'S COMMUNITY, ORGANIZING
AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AS A
RENTER AND LONGTIME LEADER IN
LGBTQ PLUS ADVOCACY, THEY HAVE
CONSISTENTLY WORKED TO ELEVATE
THE VOICES OF MARGINALIZED
VOICES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
FROM SERVING ON THE COMMISSION
TO LEADING STATEWIDE EFFORTS
THROUGH THE WASHINGTON STONEWALL
DEMOCRATS, ANDREW HAS CHAMPIONED
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS HOUSING,
HEALTHCARE AND RACIAL JUSTICE.
THEIR PASSION FOR HOUSING IT
STEMS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
AND PROFESSIONAL WORK SUPPORTING
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. ANDREW
BELIEVES HOUSING IS HUMAN RIGHT
AND THEY ARE COMMITTED TO
ADVANCING POLICIES TO PRINT --
PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND PROTECT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL. THEY
SEEK TO SERVE ON THE RENTERS
COMMISSION TO BRING LIVED
EXPERIENCE, POLICY AND SITE AN
UNWAVERING ADVOCACY TO THE TABLE
ENSURING RENTERS ARE NOT ONLY
HEARD BUT EMPOWERED IN SHAPING
THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. THOSE
ARE ALL OF THE REMAINING
APPOINTEES WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO
MAKE IT. ANDREW WAS HERE AT CITY
HALL BUT ENDED UP LEAVING AFTER
SOME OF THE DELAYS. HE DID
ATTEMPT TO BE HERE AS WELL.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
PRESENTING ON THOSE FOLKS.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, DO YOU HAVE
ANY COMMENTS?
THANK YOU. AS WAS MENTIONED,
THE RENTERS COMMISSION HAS NOT
HAD APPOINTMENTS IN ABOUT A YEAR
AND A HALF. IT'S MY WORKING
UNDERSTANDING THAT NO OTHER
COMMISSION HAS EXPERIENCED THIS
PROFOUND OF A CHALLENGE WHEN IT
COMES TO APPOINTMENTS BY THIS
BODY. I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF
THIS BODY I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO
EACH OF YOU. FOR EVERYONE WHO
HAS COME IN PERSON AND ALSO
THOSE ONLINE. I WANT TO
APOLOGIZE TO EACH OF YOU FOR NOT
BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
TODAY. THIS IS SO DISRESPECTFUL
. IT IS HARD FOR ME TO READ THIS
AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN
INTENTIONAL SUPPRESSION OF
REPRESENTATION. SEATTLE IS A
MAJORITY RENTER CITY. I AM THE
ONLY MEMBER OF THIS BODY THAT IS
A RENTER. WE ARE THE MAJORITY
AND RENTERS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY
TO BE DISPLACED AND EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS. WORKING PEOPLE ARE
BEING DISPLACED FROM THIS CITY
EVERY DAY AS WE FAIL TO ADDRESS
THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. WE
HAVE BEEN IN A STATE OF
EMERGENCY ON HOMELESSNESS FOR
YEARS. WE ARE LOSING FEDERAL
RESOURCES FOR HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES. I KNOW THAT WE WILL
HEAR A PRESENTATION TODAY ON
SOME OF THE FEDERAL RESOURCES
BUT THAT IS CRITICAL ACTION WE
CANNOT TAKE. THAT IS $30 MILLION
WE HAVE NOT LOST YET . MEMBERS
OF THIS BODY CONTINUED TO STATE
THEY ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT
LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING AND WE
ARE THE ONES THROWING THIS INTO
JEOPARDY. I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS
THAT FOR ANYONE WHO IS TUNED IN
RIGHT NOW, THIS IS NOT A
COMMITTEE MEETING . IT'S JUST A
COMMUNITY MEETING. IT IS THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS CHARTERED
RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AT THESE
MEETINGS. THIS IS LITERALLY OUR
JOB. I FIND IT DEEPLY
FRUSTRATING THAT PEOPLE TOOK
TIME TO LEAVE THEIR JOBS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND YET NOT
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE
COULD SHOW UP TO DO THERE'S. I
KNOW WE ARE ON A TIME CRUNCH. WE
MISSED CRITICAL TIME AND I'M
MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE TIME
CONSTRAINTS. I WANT TO CONTINUE
THE CONVERSATION WITH EACH OF
YOU TO BE SURE WE ARE FULLY
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES
THAT RENTERS EXPERIENCE AT THIS
TIME. YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT
THAT WE WILL MAKE SURE WE SEE
THROUGH THESE APPOINTMENTS AND
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL DELAY .
WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE TO CLOSE
BY EXPRESSING MY DEEP
FRUSTRATION WITH THE SITUATION
WE FIND OURSELVES IN TODAY AND I
CALL ON OUR COLLEAGUES TO DO
BETTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I ALSO
WANT TO APOLOGIZE THAT WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON
ADVANCING YOUR NAMES AT THIS
TIME . I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU
TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY
TO COME DOWN HERE AND BE
FRUSTRATED. I WANT TO ECHO THAT
WE NEED TO DO BETTER . I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, THANK
YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO GIVE OF
YOUR TIME TO DO THIS WORK
VOLUNTARILY. IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT
YOUR CHARACTER THAT YOU ARE
WILLING TO GIVE YOUR TIME, YOUR
ENERGY, YOUR EFFORT TO ADVOCATE
FOR FOLKS AND NOT GET PAID FOR
IT . THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR
SACRIFICE. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE TODAY. AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
AT THIS TIME. WITH THAT, I HOPE
THAT YOU ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR
DAY . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUICK NOTE: I HAVE ONE MORE QUICK NOTE.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD A QUICK: I JUST WANTED TO ADD A QUICK
NOTE OF THANKS TO THE END OF THE
LIST JUST CALLING OUT LORI
JENKINS OUR CITY LIAISON. IT IS
DUE TO LAURA ESPECIALLY AT A
CAPACITY OF FIVE COMMISSIONERS
THE RENTERS COMMISSION IS ABLE
TO STILL GET THINGS DONE. I JUST
WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT
TO HER FOR BEING HERE, ALL OF
HER HARD WORK AND REPRESENTING
THE PENDING COMMISSIONERS WHO
WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.
[APPLAUSE].
LAURA DESERVES THAT APPLAUSE: LAURA DESERVES THAT APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT
PERSON , IF WE CAN HAVE YOU COME
UP PLEASE. THE OTHER -- CAN THE
OTHER PROSPECTIVE APPOINTEE COME
FORWARD PLEASE?
GOOD MORNING . MY NAME IS
JANET STAFFORD. I'M WITH THE
SEATTLE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
IN OUR OFFICE WE HAS
COMMISSIONS, SPECIFICALLY THE
SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION
WHO HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE
LAST 15 YEARS, ADVOCATING FOR
DISABILITY JUSTICE. TODAY WE
HAVE WITH US A RECOMMENDED
COMMISSIONER, SCOT NELSON THAT
HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER FOR
THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I WOULD
LIKE TO PASS IT ON TO HIM TO
SHARE SOME WORDS.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST
OFF I WOULD LIKE TO SAY INFINITE
SOLIDARITY WITH THE RENTERS
COMMISSION FOLKS. THERE'S A
REASON WHY HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES ARE PAIRED TOGETHER.
DISABILITY, HOMELESSNESS,
QUESTIONS OF HOW WE HELP PEOPLE
IN HARD TIMES ARE INTRINSICALLY
LINKED. I WANT TO RESPECT THAT.
MY NAME IS SCOT NELSON, NO
RELATION. I USE HE/HIM PRONOUNS
AND WORK FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I AM NOT THE NELSON
WITH TUTEES IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT . I WORK FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION. AT THE
COMMUNITY CENTER. I GREW UP IN
SOUTH TACOMA. FOR THE LAST FIVE
YEARS I HAVE LIVED IN DISTRICT 2
IN THE CID AS A CARLESS RENTER.
I'M ALSO SOMEONE WHO LIVES WITH
AND HAS MANY LOVED ONES WITH
DISABILITIES. I HAVE BEEN
NOMINATED TO THE DISABILITY
COMMISSION WHICH IS AN
INCREDIBLE HONOR. I SEEK TO BE
CONCERNED -- CONFIRMED SO I CAN
LEVERAGE MY DATA SCIENCE AND
COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND MY
UNIQUE POSITION AS A CITY OF
SEATTLE EMPLOYEE TO ASSIST THE
COMMISSION TO AMPLIFY EFFORTS IN
ADVOCACY, TRANSPORTATION AND
EMPLOYMENT. I BELIEVE HOW WE
CREATE AXIS POINTS AND PROVIDE
RIGHTS TO DISABLED FAMILY AND
NEIGHBORS IS A KEY INDICATOR FOR
HOW SOCIETY IS GOING AS A WHOLE.
AS A YOUNG PERSON IT IS
SOMETIMES HARD NOT TO BE CYNICAL
I THINK THAT WE ARE COOKED.
MYSELF AND MANY OTHER YOUNG
FOLKS WHO I ENCOURAGE TO APPLY
TO THE DISABILITY COMMISSION
CANNOT STOP FIGHTING ANYWAYS.
THAT IS WHY I WOULD LIKE TO BE
PART OF THIS FANTASTIC
COMMISSION WITH INCREDIBLE
MEMBERS SUPPORTED BY SUCH A
WONDERFUL PERSON AS JADEN
STAFFORD.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR
OUR POTENTIAL COMMISSIONER?
COMMENTS?
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I
AM SORRY . I APPRECIATE YOUR
SERVICE TO OUR COMMISSION. I
SUPPOSE JUST A GENERAL QUESTION,
HOW ARE YOU HOPING TO SEEK
COUNCIL ENGAGE WITH THE
COMMISSION. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE AND HOW CAN WE DO BETTER?
I THINK IN GENERAL I WOULD: I THINK IN GENERAL I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE
AFFIRMATIVE STEPS TAKEN IN THE
REALM OF CREATING ACCESS AND
LEGISLATION THAT CITY COUNCIL
PUTS FORWARD. OFTEN TIMES WHEN
WE THINK ABOUT DISABILITY ACCESS
WE THINK ABOUT IT IN A VERY
REACTIVE OR LEGALISTIC SENSE .
WE THINK ABOUT ADA COMPLIANCE
AND WE THINK ABOUT IT WITH THE
COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK. JUST
TALKING ABOUT IT AS THINGS THAT
PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO.
TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHTS PEOPLE
HAVE TO ACCESS. WHEN IT COMES TO
TRANSPORTATION OR JOBS, PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE SAME
RIGHT AS ANYBODY ELSE DOES. WHEN
WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE LEGISLATE
THAT ARE HOW WE DISTRIBUTE
RESOURCES, THINKING ABOUT IT IN
THOSE TERMS AS OPPOSED WILL BE
LEGALLY PUNISHED IF WE DO NOT DO
THIS. I THINK THAT WOULD GO A
LONG WAY TOWARDS PEOPLE'S
CONCEPTION OF WHAT A GOOD
SOCIETY IS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IS
A COMMUNITY THAT ANYONE CAN
BECOME A MEMBER OF.
DARN NEAR EVERYONE DOES: DARN NEAR EVERYONE DOES.
IT'S A MULTIFACETED SPECTRUM
AND SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AS
SORT OF AN INEVITABILITY OF
AGING AND EXISTING IN A SOCIETY
ESPECIALLY WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS
DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. A
LOT OF FOLKS LACKS SAFE ACCESS
TO TRANSIT. WHILE WE CELEBRATE
DISABILITY AS A UNIQUE PART OF
WHO PEOPLE ARE, THERE IS A LOT
OF TRAUMA AND TRAGEDY THAT COMES
WITH UNEXPECTED DISABILITY AND
COMES WITH THE REALLY BAD THINGS
THAT CAN SUDDENLY HAPPEN TO EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF US.
CAN I JUST ADD ONE QUICK: CAN I JUST ADD ONE QUICK
NOTE. SCOTT WILL BE OUR SEVENTH
MEMBER ON THE BOARD ONCE
APPOINTED . IT IS A SMALL GROUP
OF FOLKS. WE DO HAVE NEWLY
APPOINTED COCHAIRS WHO HAVE
ALREADY DONE A MEET AND GREET
WITH A COUNCILMEMBER. I WILL
JUST SHOUT OUT . I KNOW THAT
THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THAT
EFFORT THIS YEAR. I'M SURE THEY
WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH ALL OF
YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AGAIN. APOLOGIES
FOR THE DELAY. I KNOW YOU HAVE
BEEN HERE THE ENTIRE TIME.
APOLOGIES THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE
TO VOTE ON YOUR NOMINATION TO
PROCEED FORWARD . IT WILL HAPPEN
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER AND
STEP UP. IT DOES SAY A LOT SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
WHAT DO WE HAVE NEXT? NEXT IN
THE COMMUNITY MEETING IS TALKING
ABOUT THE HUD ACTION PLAN. DO
YOU ALL HAVE A HARD STOP?
11:55.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL NOT TAKE: HOPEFULLY WE WILL NOT TAKE
THAT LONG.
I APPRECIATE THE: I APPRECIATE THE
CONSIDERATION. READY?
YES.
GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBER: GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. I
WORK FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. I AM HERE TO TALK
TODAY ABOUT THE 2025 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN. JUST TO BE UPFRONT
ABOUT THIS, RECOGNIZING THE
NATURE OF TODAY'S MEETING, WHAT
I WILL BE PRESENTING DOES HAVE
SOME REFERENCES TO LEGISLATION
AND COUNCIL PROCESS. THEY ARE
DESCRIPTIVE. I'M JUST TELLING
THE STORY OF HOW WE GOT TO WHERE
WE ARE TODAY. WE ARE HERE
BECAUSE THE VOTE TO APPROVE THIS
PLAN WILL ALLOW HST TO MEET A
SUBMISSION DEADLINE TO THE
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT . THE
DEADLINE IS AUGUST 16. LAST
DECEMBER WE PRESENTED ON THE
DRAFT 2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
AND HELD A PUBLIC HEARING. THAT
PLAN INCLUDED ESTIMATED FUNDING
ALLOCATIONS . WE RECEIVED THE
FINAL FUNDING ALLOCATIONS IN
MAY. WE HAVE PREPARED
LEGISLATION APPROVING THE 2025
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN . IN A SENSE
THIS ACTION PLAN CAN BE SEEN AS
A SPENDING PLAN. I AM HERE TODAY
TO SHARE THE SPENDING PLAN FOR
2025 HST GRANT FUNDING. WHAT WE
WILL DO TODAY. WE WILL REVIEW
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN, TOUCH ON SOME KEY
MILESTONES AND DATES LEADING UP
TO THE 2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
SUBMITTAL. WE WILL GIVE A
HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF PROJECTS
THAT THESE GRANTS SUPPORT. THEN
I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
ALLOCATIONS IN THE 2025 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN ARE ESTABLISHED
FUNDING GOALS AND PRIORITIES
THAT WERE DOCUMENTED IN THE 2024
TO 2028 CONSOLIDATED PLAN. THAT
PLAN AND THE GOALS THERE AND
WERE ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
IN OCTOBER 2023. THE CITY
COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED THIS
YEAR'S PLAN ALLOCATIONS AS PART
OF THE 2025 BUDGET PROCESS. THE
LEGISLATION WE HAVE PREPARED AND
WILL LATER BRING TO COUNCIL
MATCHES THE TWO PREVIOUSLY
ADOPTED PLANS WITH ACTUAL 20 $25
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY
THROUGH THE FEDERAL BUDGET
PROCESS. THOSE ARE THE
ALLOCATIONS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
HST IS THE GRANTEE ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR THIS
FUNDING. HST COORDINATES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ANNUAL
SPENDING PLAN THAT IS REQUIRED
FOR THESE FOUR FORMULA GRANTS
ADMINISTERED . WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THOSE PROGRAMS LATER IN
THE PRESENTATION. THE TIMELINE
ON THE SLIDE REFLECTS A STANDARD
PROCESS THAT HST UNDERTAKES IN
FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS AND
PARTICIPATING IN THESE FOUR
PROGRAMS. THESE ARE THE KEY
DATES LEADING UP TO PLAN
COMPLETION AND SUBMITTAL BY THE
AUGUST 16 STATUTORY DEADLINE. AS
I MENTIONED, HST WILL SEEK
APPROVAL TO MAKE THIS DEADLINE
AND RECEIVE THE 2025 GRANT
FUNDS. THE 2024 TO 2028
CONSOLIDATED PLAN IS A FRAMEWORK
FOR THE ACTION PLAN. IT HAS FIVE
KEY POLICY PRIORITIES WHICH WERE
ADOPTED WHEN THE PLAN WAS
RATIFIED IN 2023. I WILL JUST
READ THOSE TO THE RECORD. THESE
ARE SERVICES TO PREVENT PEOPLE
FROM EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE
IMPACTED BY MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE USE WHICH IS IMPORTANT
IN LIGHT OF THE OPIOID AND
FENTANYL CRISIS. TO INCREASE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB
RETRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW
AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
AND THOSE DISADVANTAGED AND
RECOVERING FROM RECENT ECONOMIC
STABILITY. FINALLY, TO INCREASE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
RELATED TO THESE PRIORITIES, THE
2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN WITH'S
SPECIFIC INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS
THE OPIOID AND FENTANYL CRISIS.
THAT IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE
MAYOR'S PRIORITIES. THIS SHOWS
THE DIFFERENCE IN ALLOCATIONS
RECEIVED IN 2024 AND 2025 FOR
THE PROGRAMS THAT I REFERENCED A
FEW SLIDES BACK. ALL OF THESE
PROGRAMS ARE ADMINISTERED BY
HUD. THEY ARE THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT LOCK GRANT , HOME
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS,
EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT . I
WILL BRIEFLY DEFINE EACH OF THEM
FOR YOUR REFERENCE. THIS PROGRAM
ENCRYPTS -- IMPROVES THE
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT TO ENHANCE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOW AND
MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS. THE
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
PROVIDES FUNDING THAT SUPPORTS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW AND
MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. THIS
THE ONLY PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE
LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS. THE
EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT
ASSISTS PEOPLE WITH QUICKLY
REGAINING STABILITY AND
PERMANENT HOUSING AFTER
EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS
AND/OR HOMELESSNESS. GENERALLY,
THE 2025 AMOUNTS REFLECT
APPROXIMATELY A 1% DIFFERENCE
FROM THE 2024 AWARD. WE DO NOT
ANTICIPATE THIS WILL HAVE ANY
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. A SLIGHT
EXCEPTION IS THE EST FUNDING
WHERE WE SEE THE 4% REDUCTION
FROM THE 2024 ALLOCATION. THIS
IS USED TO FUND RAPID REHOUSING
WHICH IS A CATEGORY WE TYPICALLY
SEE UNDER SPENT. NO ANTICIPATED
IMPACT FROM THIS SLIGHT
REDUCTION FROM 2024 LEVELS.
MINOR FLUCTUATIONS LIKE THIS ARE
TYPICAL AND OVERALL NATIONALLY
CONGRESS APPROPRIATED LESS TO
THIS PROGRAM THIS YEAR. SPEAKING
OF CONGRESS I WILL HIGHLIGHT
THAT THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AS IS
REFLECTED IN THESE ALLOCATIONS
WHICH DO NOT DIFFER
SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 2024 LEVELS.
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL LEGISLATION THAT IS
SHORTLY BEFORE COUNCIL, THIS
TABLE SHOWS HOW HST IS
ALLOCATING THIS FUNDING IN THE
2024 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. THE TOP
PART OF THE TABLE SHOWS THE
INTENT TO ALLOCATE THE 2025
GRANT AWARDS TOTALING 8.9
MILLION ACROSS VARIOUS PROJECTS.
THE BOTTOM PART OF THE TABLE
SHOWS 13 POINT 8 MILLION
REMAINING BALANCE OF DOLLARS
FROM PREVIOUS FUNDING YEARS AS
WELL AS THEIR INTENDED
ALLOCATIONS. THE DATA IS IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THE DRAFT 2025
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN THAT WAS
PASSED LAST DECEMBER. YOU CAN
SEE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, ONE
OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN
2025 IS INCREASED INVESTMENTS IN
OPIOID TREATMENT STUDIES. THE
LAST SLIDE WAS LARGELY SPECIFIC
TO THE FUNDING. THIS WAS
INTENDED TO SHOW THE PLANNED
USES OF FUNDING FROM THE OTHER
THREE PROGRAMS. THE FIRST DOES
REFERENCE THE REVOLVING LOAN
FUND. WE PRESENT THAT ON THIS
PAGE BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT
AND SPECIFIC USE . FOR TECHNICAL
REASONS IT'S A BETTER FIT HERE.
BOTH THIS SLIDE AND THE PREVIOUS
ONE ARE CONSISTENT WITH POLICY
PRIORITIES THAT COUNCIL APPROVED
IN THE FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED
PLAN. IMPORTANTLY THEY REFLECT
OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEND DOWN
FUNDING IN A MAXIMALLY TIMELY
MANNER. THESE ALLOCATIONS HAVE A
TIMELINESS OF EXPENDITURE
REQUIREMENT THAT WE ARE VERY
ATTENDANT TWO. JUST TO SAY IT
ONE MORE TIME, THE STATUTORY
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE ACTION
PLAN IS AUGUST 16. I NOTED THAT
WE WILL SEEK COUNCIL APPROVED
MEANT TO SUBMIT THE PLAN AND
SUBSEQUENTLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS
THE FUNDING AND SUPPORT THESE
BODIES OF WORK. THAT IS ALL THAT
I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. HAPPY TO
ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, DO YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS?
YOU MENTION CONGRESS HAS: YOU MENTION CONGRESS HAS
LOWERED THE AMOUNT FOR THIS
YEAR. COULD YOU JUST REPEAT THAT
INFORMATION?
I DON'T KNOW IF LOWERED IS
THE TERM OF ART FOR WHAT
OCCURRED . IT WAS A LOWER
APPROPRIATION. THERE COULD BE
VARIOUS REASONS. THERE'S ALWAYS
COMPETITION FOR THIS TYPE OF
GRANT FUNDING. FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE
ARE AWARE OF ANY POLICY CONCERN
AT THIS TIME. AGAIN, THESE
FLUCTUATIONS, EVEN THIS 4% ARE
NOT UNEXPECTED JUST BASED ON
YEAR-TO-YEAR VARIANCE.
THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THAT: THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THAT
DOWN. UNDERSTANDING WE ARE NOT
SEEING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BASED
ON LAST YEAR.
THAT IS CORRECT: THAT IS CORRECT.
GOOD TO HEAR. I UNDERSTAND
THE COUNTY CONVENES THE
COMMITTEE. I AM WONDERING OUR
LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT. I KNOW
THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO
UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE OTHER
NEIGHBORING CITIES AND
UNDERSTANDING THEIR ALLOCATIONS
AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. I KNOW
THAT INCLUDES A MULTITUDE OF
PARTNERSHIPS. HOW ARE WE
ENGAGING AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT
REGIONAL PARTNERS MAY BE
EXPERIENCING?
I DO NOT STAFF THAT BODY OF: I DO NOT STAFF THAT BODY OF
WORK. I WOULD LOVE TO GET SOME
MORE INFORMATION AND FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
MY BOTTOM LINE QUESTION IS: MY BOTTOM LINE QUESTION IS
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? FIRST,
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COUNCIL DOES
NOT PHONE IN TIME ON THIS?
IF HST IS NOT ABLE TO SUBMIT: IF HST IS NOT ABLE TO SUBMIT
ITS APPLICATION TO HUD ON OR BY
AUGUST 16, I DO NOT WANT TO SAY
WE LOSE ACCESS TO THE FUNDING
BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE THAT IS
THE CASE, BUT THERE'S A RISK
THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS
THE FUNDING THAT'S BEEN
ALLOCATED ACROSS THESE PROGRAMS.
SO AUGUST 16 IS YOUR DEADLINE
TO SUBMIT?
YES.
WHAT IS THE COUNCIL DEADLINE: WHAT IS THE COUNCIL DEADLINE
TO ACT SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR
DEADLINE?
I AM NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER: I AM NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER
THAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A
CONVERSATION THAT HS THE AND
THOSE THAT SUPPORT THE COUNCIL
NEED TO HAVE TO ENSURE . SINCE
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO POTENTIALLY
VOTE THIS ANNUAL ACTION PLAN OUT
OF COMMITTEE TODAY THAT THERE IS
A PATH TO THAT TAKING PLACE. I
KNOW THAT CONVERSATIONS ARE
BEING HAD.
THE LAST THING THAT WE WANT: THE LAST THING THAT WE WANT
TO SEE, 16+ MILL LEFT ON THE
TABLE BECAUSE WE DID NOT DO
SOMETHING IN A TIMELY FASHION.
JUST SAYING.
I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
IF WE COULD JUST DO SOME: IF WE COULD JUST DO SOME
FOLLOW-UP, IF NECESSARY UNTIL A
FULL CHAIR CAN BE SEATED, MAYBE
THE VICE CHAIR CAN CALL A
SPECIAL MEETING I WILL DO THAT.
IT SEEMS THAT THERE COULD BE: IT SEEMS THAT THERE COULD BE
AT LEAST A COUPLE OF CREATIVE
OPTIONS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE
SUBMITTAL OF AN APPROVED ACTION
PLAN BY AUGUST 16.
SINCE WE ARE HAVING A: SINCE WE ARE HAVING A
COMMUNITY MEETING DOES THIS HAVE
TO GO THROUGH THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE?
I SEE THE CLERK SHAKING HIS: I SEE THE CLERK SHAKING HIS
HEAD. I DON'T BELIEVE IT NEEDS
TO GO THROUGH THE HOUSE AND AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. DOES
IT NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER
COMMITTEE BEFORE IT CAN GO TO A
FULL COUNCIL . SO LET'S GET
CREATIVE. .
I WANT TO ECHO YOUR: I WANT TO ECHO YOUR
SENTIMENTS AND MAKE SURE IT IS
NOT DELAYED. I FULLY SUPPORT ANY
LEGISLATIVE PATH THAT GET THIS
DONE ON TIME. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU. AGAIN, THANK YOU
FOR STICKING WITH US TODAY TO
STICK IT OUT AND HANGING IN
THROUGH THE TIME DELAYS. WHO DO
WE HAVE NEXT. TO QUOTE THE GREAT
PHILOSOPHER MARSHAWN LYNCH, WHAT
IS NEXT? GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO DO
INTRODUCTIONS?
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES: PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
FOR THE COMMUNITY MEETING.
KRISTA FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. LAUREN FROM CONSUMER
PROTECTION DIVISION. TRACY FROM
THE COUNCIL STAFF.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK TO YOU: WE ARE HERE TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT LEGISLATION THE MAYOR
TRANSMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL
TO REGULATE PREDATORY HOMEBUYING
PRACTICES. WE HAVE THE DECK THAT
WE ARE PREPARED TO WALK THROUGH
WITH YOU. I AM HAPPY TO JUST
DIVE IN.
PLEASE: PLEASE.
LET ME START BY TALKING ABOUT: LET ME START BY TALKING ABOUT
WHAT IS PREDATORY HOMEBUYING? IT
IS WHEN HOMEOWNERS RECEIVE
UNSOLICITED OFFERS, OFTEN FOR
CASH FOR SELLERS TO BUY THEIR
HOMES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON
THE MARKET AND NOT LISTED. THIS
WILL INVOLVE GETTING CALLS,
LETTERS, POSTCARDS, TEXT
MESSAGES FROM VARIOUS SELLERS
SUGGESTING THEY ARE INTERESTED
IN BUYING SOMEONE'S HOME. THE
FOLKS MOST AT RISK FOR THESE
TYPES OF PRACTICES ARE
VULNERABLE HOMEOWNERS, OFTEN THE
ELDERLY AND FINANCIALLY
DISTRESSED. THERE IS A STRONG
INTERSECTION WITH RACE,
ESPECIALLY BLACK LEGACY
HOMEOWNERS WHO'VE BEEN MOST AT
RISK FOR THESE TYPES OF
PRACTICES. IT OFTEN INVOLVES
HEAVY-HANDED PRESSURE TACTICS.
THE END RESULT COULD BE SOMEONE
SELLING THEIR HOME FOR BELOW
MARKET VALUE WHICH MEANS THEY
MIGHT BE GETTING LESS FOR THEIR
HOME THAN THEY WOULD OTHERWISE
IF THEY HAVE LISTED IT ON THE
MARKET. SO WHY ARE WE TACKLING
THIS ISSUE NOW? I JUST WANT TO
PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT. THERE'S A
MAJOR UPDATE TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN . A LOT OF
CONCERNS THAT COME WITH THE
ZONING ABOUT DISPLACEMENT
PRESSURES. IN THAT CONTEXT WE
HEARD FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY
ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT PREDATORY
HOMEBUYING PRACTICES. PERHAPS
THOSE MIGHT HEAT UP WHEN THE HB
1110 LEGISLATION TAKES EFFECT
WHICH THE INTERIM DID A COUPLE
MONTHS AGO. WE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT
YOU CAN ADD MORE HOMES TO WHAT
WAS TRADITIONALLY A
SINGLE-FAMILY PARCEL . WE ASKED
THE INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE
TEAM TO DO A REVIEW OF THE
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PRACTICES. IN
THE CITY WE HAVE MANY PROGRAMS
IN PLACE, BUT THE INNOVATION AND
PERFORMANCE TEAM IDENTIFIED
VARIOUS WAYS WE CAN IMPROVE UPON
OUR CURRENT PROGRAMMING . THE
END RESULT OF THAT IS AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER WE ISSUED TO
IMPROVE THE EFFICACY OF THE
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROGRAMS AND
FILL IN SOME OF THE GAPS. ONE OF
THE GAPS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WAS
REGULATING PREDATORY HOMEBUYING
PRACTICES. MAYOR HARRELL ASKED
THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP
LEGISLATION TO REGULATE THESE
PRACTICES. THAT IS A LITTLE BIT
OF THE CONTEXT ABOUT HOW THIS
LEGISLATION CAME TO BE. HIGH
LEVEL OVERVIEW, THE LEGISLATION
OBLIGATES POTENTIAL BUYERS TO
DISCLOSE CERTAIN INFORMATION TO
HOMEOWNERS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS.
IT PROVIDES AN OUT FOR
HOMEOWNERS TO CANCEL A CONTRACT
AFTER THEY SIGN IT. IT GIVES THE
CITY THE ABILITY TO FIND
BUSINESSES OR INDIVIDUALS THAT
DO NOT COMPLY AND ESTABLISHES
ACTION. I WILL JUST KEEP GOING
IF THERE ARE NOT ANY QUESTIONS
WITH A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT
WHAT'S IN THE LEGISLATION. FEEL
FREE TO ASK ME AS I GO. IN TERMS
OF THE DETAILS, THE PROPOSED
REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT
POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THESE HOMES
WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGING WITH
HOMEOWNERS NEED TO PROVIDE
VARIOUS DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
TO HOMEOWNERS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
PRIOR TO SIGNING A PURCHASE
CONTRACT AS WELL AS WHEN THE
PURCHASE CONTRACT GOES TO BE
SIGNED. AT LEAST FIVE DAYS IN
ADVANCE, THE POTENTIAL BUYER
MUST PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO
THE OWNER OF THE HOME ABOUT HOW
TO ASSESS THE FAIR MARKET VALUE
OF THEIR HOME. IT OUTLINES THE
OWNER'S RIGHT TO APPRAISAL
WHICH THE POTENTIAL BUYER MUST
PAY FOR. IT HIRES -- HIGHLIGHTS
THE OWNER'S RIGHT TO HIRE A
REAL ESTATE AGENT AND SEEK LEGAL
COUNCIL AND ANY OTHER
INFORMATION DEEMED APPROPRIATE .
WHEN IT COMES TO THE PURCHASE
CONTRACT, THE CONTRACT MUST
INCLUDE A SEPARATE DISCLOSURE
DOCUMENT WITH ALL THE
INFORMATION I JUST COVERED AND
ALSO SPECIFY THAT THE HOMEOWNER
HAS A RIGHT TO CANCEL THE
CONTRACT WITHOUT PENALTY.
REASONABLY THAT WILL INCLUDE
DETAIL ABOUT HOW LONG THEY HAVE
TO CONSIDER PURCHASING THE
CONTRACT WHICH I WILL GET INTO
IN A MOMENT. THE DISCLOSURE
NOTICE WILL ALSO INCLUDE CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR REPORTING
VIOLATIONS TO THE CITY. AFTER
SIGNING THE CONTRACT THE OWNER
CAN HIRE AN APPRAISER EVEN UP TO
10 DAYS AFTER SIGNING. THE OWNER
CAN ALSO CANCEL THE CONTRACT
WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER
RECEIVING APPRAISAL. THE OWNER
CAN CANCEL THE CONTRACT 10 DAYS
AFTER EXECUTION IF NO APPRAISAL
IS SIGNED. THERE'S VARIOUS TIME
PERIODS IN THE LEGISLATION
TALKING ABOUT WHEN AND HOW THE
HOMEOWNER CAN CANCEL THE
CONTRACT WITH NO PENALTY. SO
THAT PROVIDES A BUFFER IN THE
EVENT THE HOMEOWNER HAS SELLERS
REMORSE OR LEARNS THAT THEIR
HOME IS WORTH MORE MONEY AND
PROVIDES ADDITIONAL PROTECTION
FOR THE HOMEOWNER. OUR
LEGISLATION CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH
LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED BY
THE STATE . WHEN WE STARTED TO
FIRST LOOK AT THIS ISSUE THE
STATE LEGISLATION WAS NOT ON OUR
RADAR. I THINK THE STATE FOR
SIMILAR REASONS WITH ALL OF THE
LEGISLATION COMING OUT ALSO
WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT
PREDATORY HOMEBUYING PRACTICES.
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
RECOMMENDED WE TRY TO ALIGN WITH
THE STATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO
AVOID CONFUSION AND DUPLICATION
OF EFFORTS. IT WAS AT THAT POINT
WE PIVOTED FROM SOME OF THE
OTHER IDEAS WE WERE EXPLORING
AND TOOK A LOOK AT THE STATE
LEGISLATION. I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE CITY LEGISLATION
GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND . FIRST OF
ALL IT IMPOSES MORE STRINGENT
FINES . IT PROVIDES MORE TIME
FOLLOWING EXECUTION OF THE
CONTRACT TO OBTAIN AN APPRAISAL
AND CANCEL THE CONTRACT. IT HAS
STRONGER DOCUMENTATION
REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THE
STATEMENTS TO THE HOMEOWNERS ARE
ACTUALLY BEING RECEIVED. IT
ESTABLISHES THAT HOMEOWNERS HAVE
A RIGHT OF ACTION . THOSE ARE
ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR
LEGISLATION WHILE TRYING TO
ADHERE TO THE INTENT WE DECIDED
TO INCREASE SOME PROTECTIONS FOR
HOMEOWNERS AS WELL. YOU KNOW, WE
DO NOT AT THIS POINT HAVE A GOOD
HANDLE ON THE EXTENT OF THE
PROBLEM. THIS IS ANOTHER WAY FOR
THE CITY TO START DOCUMENTING
THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE
PRACTICES ARE OCCURRING AND
PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH
THIS PRACTICE. WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO TRACK
THIS MORE CLOSELY. IF ADDITIONAL
PROTECTIONS ARE NEEDED IN THE
FUTURE WE WILL BE IN POSITION TO
DETERMINE THAT. WITH THAT, I
WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO TALK
ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION.
GOOD MORNING. FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION STEPS, THERE'S A
COUPLE OF WAYS THAT WE LOOKED AT
IT. WE DO NOT HAVE A HANDLE ON
HOW OFTEN THIS IS HAPPENING. ONE
OF THE FIRST THINGS WE WILL DO
IS UPDATE ANY WEBSITE
INFORMATION. THAT WOULD BE
INCLUDING THE CONSUMER
PROTECTION WEBSITE WITH
INFORMATION FOR THE BUYERS,
WHOLESALERS, RESIDENTS AND
HOMEOWNERS ABOUT HOW THIS WILL
IMPACT THEM, HOW TO REPORT
COMPLAINTS AND UP DATE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. ONE OF
THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT AS
FAR AS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION,
SINCE WE DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE
ALL IN SEATTLE, IN THE STATE OR
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WOULD BE
THROUGH MAIL AND PHONE CONTACTS
AND INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM
RESIDENTS ABOUT WHO THEY MAY
HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY FOR
SELLING THEIR HOME. FOR THE
OTHER AREAS WE WERE LOOKING AT
IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION CARDS
AT PUBLIC LOCATIONS SUCH AS
COMMUNITY CENTERS, CLINICS,
LIBRARIES, SERVICE CENTERS,
AREAS WHERE WE ARE REALLY SEEING
CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENT WITHIN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THESE
HOMES MIGHT BE MORE LIKELY TO BE
-- AS THOSE AREAS EXPAND. WE
WOULD ADDITIONALLY USE THE
LANGUAGE ACCESS THAT IS
AVAILABLE FOR THE HIGH-LEVEL
LANGUAGES TO BE TRANSLATED IN.
WE THINK THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS
TO UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND
SERVICES. THE TRAINING WOULD
ALSO BE FOR LICENSE AND STANDARD
INSPECTORS AS WELL AS TO WORK
WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAU
AS THEY MANAGE THE BEGINNING OF
THOSE CALLS FROM CUSTOMERS WITH
QUESTIONS. THEY COULD DO IT
ONLINE OR GET THOSE CONCERNS TO
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU
TO DO AN INVESTIGATION. AS FAR
AS THE ENFORCEMENT FOR THIS A
COMPLAINT WOULD BE RECEIVED BY
CONSUMER PROTECTION EITHER
ONLINE, IN PERSON OR THROUGH THE
PHONE . IT WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO
AN INSPECTOR. AFTER THAT THE
INSPECTOR WOULD DO THEIR
INSPECTION TO SEE IF THE
PROTOCOL WAS FOLLOWED . THE
INSPECTOR WOULD NOTIFY BOTH
PARTIES OF THE OUTCOME OF THE
INVESTIGATION. IF IT IS DEEMED
THAT THERE WAS A VIOLATION A
CITATION WOULD BE ISSUED TO THE
WHOLESALE BUSINESS. THE FIRST
VIOLATION IS $7500. THE SECOND
WOULD BE $10,000 IF THAT
HAPPENED IN THAT FIRST 12
MONTHS. THE CITATIONS CAN BE
APPEALED . THEY WOULD HAVE 10
DAYS TO DO THAT . THAT IS THE
PLAN AT THIS TIME. I WOULD BE
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
SINCE WE ARE HAVING THIS: SINCE WE ARE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION, HOW LONG CAN YOU
STICK AROUND FOR THE
CONVERSATION?
I AM AVAILABLE: I AM AVAILABLE.
TRACY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
TO ADD.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS: THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS
A QUESTION TO THE EXECUTIVE. IT
TALKS ABOUT USING AN EXISTING
STAFF PERSON FOR 2025. NOTHING
ABOUT 2026 . I AM WONDERING HOW
YOU PLAN TO APPROACH THAT. THE
ONLY OTHER COMMENT I HAD WAS
BECAUSE THERE IS A SLIGHT
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE
STATE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING AND
WHAT THE CITY WILL BE
IMPLEMENTING, JUST MAKING SURE
WE INFORM PEOPLE OF CITY
REQUIREMENTS VERSUS THE STATE
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE MORE
STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS
OF THIS NOTICE. THE CITY HAS
PROVISIONS THAT ARE STRICTER
THAN THE STATE. MAKING SURE
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THOSE
DIFFERENCES AND THE NEED TO
COMPLY WITH THE CITY
REQUIREMENTS.
AT THIS POINT CONSUMER: AT THIS POINT CONSUMER
PROTECTION FEELS WE HAVE ENOUGH
INSPECTORS TO ABSORB COMPLAINTS
COMING IN. THE ROLE OF THE
STRATEGIC ADVISOR PROBABLY WOULD
BE FINE AND 2025. IN 2026 WE
ANTICIPATE ABSORBING THE WORK.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SEE
WHAT KIND OF NUMBERS WE ARE
SEEING. THERE'S A LOT OF
UNKNOWNS ABOUT WHAT IMPACTS THEY
ARE SEEING. AS SOMEBODY WHO
LIVES IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE I
KNOW I PROBABLY GET 15 TO 20
SOLICITATIONS PER MONTH . THAT
IS ONE WAY I'M LOOKING TO SEE
WHERE THESE ARE COMING FROM, HOW
TO INFORM THEM. IS IT FROM
CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT IS
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. AT
THIS POINT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE
THE FINANCIAL NEED FOR SUPPORT.
I GET A LOT OF THOSE AS WELL: I GET A LOT OF THOSE AS WELL.
THEY GO STRAIGHT IN THE TRASH.
THERE IS A PRESS RELEASE THIS
MORNING FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ABOUT THIS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE SAME THING. WHAT ACTION IF
ANY DO YOU NEED THE COUNCIL TO
TAKE?
WE HAVE TRANSMITTED: WE HAVE TRANSMITTED
LEGISLATION. FOR THESE TO GO
INTO EFFECT WE WOULD NEED
COUNCIL TO VOTE ON THE
LEGISLATION AT SOME POINT.
IS THERE A TIMELINE BY WHICH: IS THERE A TIMELINE BY WHICH
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? OTHER
THAN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER?
PREFERABLY BEFORE THE BUDGET: PREFERABLY BEFORE THE BUDGET
PROCESS STARTS. WHEN I
UNDERSTAND YOU DO NOT TAKE UP
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION.
AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT TIMING, GIVEN, HOW THEY WILL
SHAKE OUT IN ORDER TO GET THINGS
ROLLING AND GET IT IN PLACE. IT
IS NOT LIKE THE HUD THING . I'M
JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS A
DROPDEAD DATE FOR THIS OTHER
THAN DO IT BEFORE WE START DOING
BUDGET STUFF.
NO. OUR PREFERENCE IS THAT IT
DOES GET ADOPTED BEFORE BUDGET.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
JUST AN OVERARCHING COMMENT: JUST AN OVERARCHING COMMENT.
I'M PLEASED THIS IS COMING
BEFORE US. IT'S AN ISSUE I'VE
CONTINUED TO HEAR ABOUT. I KNOW
THAT FOLKS HAVE FELT A BIT OUT
OF SORTS LIKE WHAT IS SOMETHING
WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
UNDERSTANDING IT IS HARD TO
MEASURE THE SCALE OF THE ISSUE.
IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD INITIAL
FIRST STEP FOR US TO START
COLLECTING INFORMATION AND
UNDERSTANDING THE PERVASIVENESS
OF IT, COMMON TACTICS, WHO SOME
OF THESE FOLKS ARE,
UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A FIRST
STEP AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
LEARN AS WE GET SOME OF THIS
INFORMATION. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT,
AS WE MOVE FORWARD HOW WE WILL
PLAN TO FURTHER ENGAGE WITH THE
EXISTING COMMISSION OR SOME OF
THE KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS IN
THE COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT HAVE A
GOOD UNDERSTANDING. INKING ABOUT
LEGACY BLACK HOMEOWNERS. THE
MAYOR'S COUNCIL FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELDERS AND
OTHER APPROPRIATE COMMISSIONS AS
WELL. I WOULD ASSUME PART OF
THAT EDUCATION WOULD BE PART OF
WHAT THEY ARE DOING. AS PART OF
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WE ALSO HAVE
A WHOLE SECTION ON BETTER
COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION
AMONG DEPARTMENT TO GET THE WORD
OUT GENERALLY ABOUT THE MANY
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROGRAMS THE
CITY IS FUNDING. WHAT WE LEARNED
THROUGH THE REVIEW OF OUR WORK
IS THAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THESE
PROGRAMS SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE DO A BETTER JOB CONNECTING
PEOPLE WITH THESE PROGRAMS AND
THOSE THAT NEED THE MOST ARE
AWARE OF THEM AND THE COMMUNITY
ARE AWARE OF THEM. THOSE WHO
WILL ARE WORKING WITH VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS CAN HELP GET OUT THE
WORD AND THESE WILL BE ADDED TO
THE LIST ASSUMING COUNCIL PASSES
THIS LEGISLATION OF THINGS WE
CAN BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AND
HELPING MITIGATE CONCERNS.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS
BUILDING ON THAT POINT IN TERMS
OF GETTING THE WORD OUT. IF
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO TIE THIS
TO EXISTING PROGRAMS WITH GROUPS
THAT MAY BE MORE IMPACTED BY
THIS. FOLKS THAT MAY BE ENROLLED
IN THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM,
I'M THINKING ABOUT EXISTING
CHANNELS SO WE CAN ATTACH THIS
INFORMATION . IF WE HAVE THOUGHT
ABOUT CONNECTING WITH THE COUNTY
IF THERE IS AN EXEMPTION FOR
PROPERTY TAXES FOR SENIORS IF WE
CAN SEE IF WE CAN USE THEIR
CHANNELS TO BE SURE FOLKS THAT
ARE ACCESSING THIS TO BE SURE.
I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK TO
CITY COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT WHAT
THE COMMUNICATION PLAN IS ONCE
WE PULL IT TOGETHER. I THINK
SOME OF THAT WORK IS HAPPENING
NOW. I REALLY APPRECIATE SOME OF
THAT. I THINK IT IS CONSISTENT
WITH WHERE WE ARE GOING.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS AND: THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS.
A FEW WEEKS BACK WE DID THE: A FEW WEEKS BACK WE DID THE
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT RESOURCE AT
THE RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY
CENTER. BASICALLY EDUCATING
FOLKS ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES EXIST
TO HELP THEM STAY IN THEIR HOMES
WHETHER IT IS DISCOUNTS, HOME
REPAIR, NO-COST OR LOW-COST
LOANS. A LOT OF THE PROVIDERS
THAT WERE THERE FROM HOMEOWNERS
TO UNITED WAY TO HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY , INCLUDING OUR OWN
CITY DEPARTMENTS, A LOT OF FOLKS
DID NOT WANT -- DID NOT KNOW
WHAT THEY PROVIDED. IT WAS AN
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO FIND
OUT WHO ELSE DOES WANT TO HELP
PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES. I
THINK ABOUT WHEN WE HAD THE
ATMOSPHERIC RIVER A COUPLE YEARS
AGO. I HAD FLOODING IN MY
BASEMENT. THE PRICE TAG FOR THAT
ADDED UP IN TERMS OF MITIGATION
AND THE FIXES AND THE WHOLE BIT.
FORTUNATELY I HAD ACCESS TO MY
DEFERRED COMP I COULD DIP INTO
TO OFFSET THE COSTS. I THINK
ABOUT THE NEIGHBOR TWO DOORS
DOWN IN HER 90s. SHE DOES NOT
HAVE THAT LIQUID. SO THAT IS
WHERE I AM LOOKING AT THESE
PREDATORY FOLKS WHO SAY WE KNOW
YOU HAD AN ISSUE. WE WILL GIVE
YOU X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR YOUR
HOUSE AND IT IS WORTH THREE OR
FOUR TIMES MORE. THAT IS THE
KIND OF THING WE WANT TO SQUASH.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
BEING VOTED ON . ANYTHING ELSE
TO ADD ?
I WOULD JUST SUGGEST. YOUR
COLLEAGUES WOULD BE AWARE ABOUT
THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE
COUNCILMEMBER WILL HAD PROPOSED
LOOKING AT A PROGRAM IN SOME
SORT. THIS IS SQUARE IN RESPONSE
TO WHAT SHE WAS THINKING. YOUR
COLLEAGUES MAY BE AMENABLE TO AN
EXPEDITED PROCESS GIVEN THAT
THEY SUPPORTED IT DURING THE
LAST BUDGET PROCESS AS A
PROPOSED SOLUTION.
WHEN WE ARE ACTUALLY IN: WHEN WE ARE ACTUALLY IN
COMMITTEE WE WILL HAVE THE
PROCESS . AS WE ARE JUST HAVING
A CONVERSATION, WE WANT TO THINK
HOW WE CAN MOVE THINGS FORWARD .
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I
GUESS THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
IS TIME TO GO TO LUNCH.
CAN I JUST SHARE SOME REMARKS: CAN I JUST SHARE SOME REMARKS
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LEADING
US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. YOU ARE
SERVING AS CHAIR ON THIS
COMMITTEE AS AN INTERIM BASIS. I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GOING
ABOVE AND BEYOND TODAY. YOU DID
NOT HAVE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY
MEETING TODAY. WE COULD HAVE
JUST SAID CORAM IS NOT HERE. WE
WILL CALL IT ANOTHER TIME. YOU
SHARE THE VALUE THAT I SHARE
WHICH IS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE
HEARD AND WE SHOULD BE SURE THIS
COMES BEFORE THE COMMUNITY TODAY
AND IS RECORDED FOR THE PUBLIC
TO SEE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP. IT MEANS A LOT
TO ME AND I THINK IT MEANT A LOT
FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE
US TODAY. WITH THAT BEING SAID
WE ARE HERE PERFORMING OUR
CHARTERED RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE
IN COMMITTEE AND DOING THIS
WORK? WHERE'S THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND WHERE IS
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I WOULD LOVE
TO KNOW. I THINK THE PEOPLE
WOULD LOVE TO KNOW. ON THAT NOTE
I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN. I
WANT TO THANK THE TEAM AS WELL
FOR COMING TODAY TO PROVIDE THIS
INFORMATION TO US. I HAVE A LOT
OF QUESTIONS COMING OUT OF THIS
MEETING AND NOT ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE. GO GET LUNCH. THERE
IS REALLY NOTHING TO CLOSE OUT
BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL
COMMITTEE MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME, SEATTLE CHANNEL.