Select Budget Committee 10/28/25

Good morning.

The October 28th, 2025 Select Budget Committee will come to order.

It is 9.30 a.m.

I'm Dan Strauss, Chair of the Committee.

Will the Clerk please call the roll?

Council Member Solomon?

Here.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

Present.

Council Member Juarez?

Here.

Councilmember Kettle.

Here.

Council President Nelson.

Councilmember Rink.

Present.

Councilmember Rivera.

Present.

Councilmember Sacca.

Chair Strauss.

Present.

Here.

Sorry.

Eight.

Present.

Well, good morning.

There we are.

Thank you for coming to today's Seattle City Council Select Budget Committee meeting.

I can see that we have more people signed up for this public comment period than we did for the public hearing we had a few weeks ago.

It must be because the Mariners are not in the World Series.

and with this deep love and interest of our budget I will also let you know that we have another public hearing next week and I'm double checking to see that we also have a public comment period next week at 930. So The way that we've worked in public hearings, we can go as late as we want, right?

So we have as much time as possible.

During public comment periods, we adjust the amount of time depending on how many people are here.

So if there are 30 people, we'll do one minute.

If there are fewer or more than 30 people, I guess 30 people's two minutes, 60 people's one minute, more than 60 people, we adjust.

There are way more than 60 people here today and I'm glad for it.

And so we are gonna use 45 seconds this morning for public comment period.

We will go until everyone's had their voice heard, and we will also be adding another public comment period this coming Thursday, because not all council member proposals have been published, and so I want to open up another opportunity for people to provide public comment ahead of the chair's package.

Colleagues, are there any questions at this time on the public comment and public hearing schedule?

I'm seeing none, so we are going to open up the public comment period.

Clerk, how many speakers do we have signed up today?

We have 50 in person and 18 remote.

Thank you very much.

And so we will have 45 seconds.

People will be called in the order in which they have registered.

We will do all of our in-person speakers first, and then we'll do our online speakers at the end.

The public comment period is now open.

We will begin with the first speaker on the list.

We have three microphones.

I strongly suggest this middle microphone and move it so that it is close to your mouth because you can't hear much when it's not nearby.

So we're gonna call out five to ten names, three to ten names at a time.

Feel free to line up right in the middle and we'll just keep rolling.

Yvette Dinnish, you are first, followed by Lilitha Williams, Jaylene Scott, Angela Swanson.

Pamela Green, Robert Delgado.

And to keep things moving this morning, if you want to show support, you can do jazz hands, snap, assign a support in that way.

And Ms. Dinnish, you do not have to reveal who your favorite is, but I do know that there is a battle between two council members and it's not me.

With that, Ms. Dinnish, floor is yours.

Thank you.

Oh, most importantly, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it to stand one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you Joy Hollingsworth for your inspiration behind creating the first Black Budget Day.

Well done.

And I'm also speaking in total support of her amendments, such as reparations and community investment, preserving Central District South Seattle by descendants of slaves, study on Black Advisory Council, I love that one, and inventory for historical Black buildings and cultural spaces.

We elect Bruce Harrell for mayor.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you, Ms. Dinnish.

We cannot talk about campaigns here at public comment period.

When you hear the chime, you've got 10 seconds remaining.

So just to read out now that it's a little quieter, Lalitha Williams, Jaylene Scott, Angel Swanson, Pamela Green, Robert Delgado.

Hello, my name is Lalitha Williams and I am an African-American woman born and bred in the Central District of Seattle.

I am calling to ask for support for Joy Hollingworth, all her amendments, but specifically to say that we need finances, we need support for our young black girls that are being trafficked in Seattle.

We don't have any resources.

I sit and watch them all the time and have nowhere to go, no resources for them, so they have no options but to return to the danger they just got.

that they just left.

And I can't tell you enough how much it hurts to have babies 11, 12, 13, 14 years old that have nowhere to go but back to prostitution.

Please give us support so we can keep our babies safe.

Thank you.

Good.

Up next is Jaylene Scott followed by Angel Swanson and Pamela Green.

Morning.

I'm Jaylene Scott, Lavender Rights Project.

I'm standing in support of Councilmember Hollingsworth bold amendments in the face of attacks on black community and black LGBT community.

a community that is historically and currently underfunded.

These amendments are necessary to reassert the city's commitment to black community in this crisis.

It will allow Lavender Rice Project to continue our wraparound services, including referrals, healing and health programming.

We care for all community, but especially black community and black trans people who face 42% rate of experience of homelessness.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Up next is Angel Swanson, Pamela Green.

Angel, good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Angel Swanson.

I'm founder and executive director of Feeding Feasible Feasts.

We are a food relief agency.

Here in Seattle, we launched a two-year program where we rescued grocery items from grocery, delivering to black agencies in need, places like Bird Bar, Dignity for Divas, and others.

We averaged over 100,000 pounds of food a month as we delivered to these agencies, and at the same time, creating so much climate relief that we're actually going to receive an award.

We make sure that this food gets to our agencies in a way that their families feel dignified and feed their families with the most nutritious foods available.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Up next.

Good morning.

Good morning, City Council.

Good morning, Chair Strauss.

My name is Paul Green.

I live in the sanctuary and have lived for many years since about the 80s.

Can you hear me?

A little closer.

Okay, how's that?

Fair enough.

Yeah.

And I just wanted to be here in support of our community, which is also a part of yours, but it's led by a great leader in Joy Hollingsworth.

And I'm here to acknowledge the fact that the resources that we have need to be sustained.

and that we need improvements around where we're at today in the cost of doing business in our community in terms of our sustainability economically and in support of who we are.

And I'm full support of her amendments as well, Councilmember Jolie Hollingsworth, and I want to be able to say thank you for your time.

Thank you, Paul.

Up next is Robert, followed by Jim Buchanan, Elmer Dixon, Anthony Washington, and Donna Moody.

Thank you.

Thank you for the City Council.

Thank you for Joy, Mark, and Mr. Strauss.

I'm here on behalf of our folks in the south end at Northwest Black Pioneers, Mars Early Learning Academy, Toddler Tech, which I've been down in that area for almost 45 years working with youth, 23 years at Rainier Beach High School.

I'm asking the Council to definitely help us and bless us to be able to have funding in order for us to be able to continue to make change.

Not looking at things the way they are, but funding us so we can make things much different.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jim, welcome.

Hello, I'm Jim Buchanan, president of Washington State Descendants of the Enslaved.

I want to start by thanking Councilmember Hollingsworth for thought-filled amendments and also Chair President Strauss for reaching out to community.

But I would like to address something.

You know, we need respect put on our name.

We are black descendants of the enslaved.

We're not black and brown.

or not any of that.

We saw Council Member Hollingsworth come up with amendments during the comp plan time, and then after she said her heartfelt speech about how we got devastated, we saw the council brownwash it and turn it into a black and brown thing and turn it into a BIPOC thing.

And the last I remember, nobody brown were enslaved with us.

Put respect to our name.

We're black descendants of the enslaved.

Thank you, Mr. Buchanan.

Mr. Dixon, welcome.

Right on, Jim.

Thank you, Council Member Joy Hollinsworth, Mark Solomon, Ms. Rivera, Saka.

I'm sorry, I don't know all your names, and Budget Chair Strauss for giving us this brief moment.

My name is Elmer Dixon.

I'm a co-founder and former member of the Seattle Black Panther Party.

been in Seattle since 1957 and has seen all of the changes that have gone through our community.

It is imperative that you act today because not only are we spread across the city, our community, we are losing ground.

And without your support, the ground that we do have will be lost.

So stand strong and stand for the people.

All power to the people.

Thank you, Mr. Dixon.

Donna Moody.

Followed in Madonna will have Moni Tepp, Ebony Arunga, Theo Martin, Lori Goff, Javon Bray, and my apologies if I did not read your handwriting well enough I learned to read in Ballard.

Ms. Moody.

Good morning.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to what we have to say today.

I want to thank Council Member Hollingsworth for putting forth these amendments which ask for an investment in our community.

This investment that goes for preservation and repair is really a simple mitigation for the damage that has been caused through displacement and gentrification in our neighborhood, which happened very rapidly and caused a lot of harm to people that reside in our neighborhood.

These investments really are just a drop in the bucket to begin to repair what we've seen over the years through the rapid development that Seattle sent out on our Central District neighborhood.

Working at the Urban League, we're also making quite a few investments in our neighborhood, and we'd love to see those investments supported as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Moni Tepp, Ebony Arunga.

Moni, good morning.

Good morning.

Hi, I'm Oni Teb.

I'm speaking on behalf of Lavender Rights Project.

I'm standing in support of Council Member Hollingsworth and her amendment.

At LRP, we don't just provide services, we build leaders.

LRP trains and mentors black and trans and gender expansive people, as well as our allied community members to step into advocacy, leadership, and public life.

from public organizing to housing justice.

We're growing the next generation of Black leadership in Seattle.

For too long, Black Seattle nonprofits have been underfunded, expected to do more with less even during crisis.

But we know that when we invest in our people, we build lasting systems of care and accountability.

I'm asking the council to ensure that funding supports Black-led leadership and programs and that it stays a priority.

Our city's future depends on who we choose to invest in.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning, Ebony, followed by Theo.

Thank you, Seattle City Council and Budget Chair Strauss.

My name is Ebony Arunga, and I'm the ED at Langston in Seattle's historically black Central District.

And I'm here as a member of the Black Homeowners Policy Council and a lifelong member of Seattle Central District's community.

For decades, redlining, gentrification, and disinvestments have stripped black families of homes, wealth, and stability, turning our neighborhood into some of the most economically distressed zip codes in the city.

Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth's amendments are a step toward repair.

They reflect investment that are not charity.

they are reparative.

They are about restoring what was taken and ensuring our youth and future generations can remain rooted in the communities their families built.

We are worthy and deserving of investment, not erasure.

Please vote yes to fully support these amendments.

Thank you.

Theo followed by Lori Goff and then Jovan Bray.

Hi, how you guys doing today?

My name is Jovan Bray.

I wanna say thank you guys for having me here I'm here in support of council member Hollinsworth.

It's funny, me being here actually, this is like my first time in this kind of scenario.

But what's been really cool though is I came to her when I first moved to Seattle.

I'm the founder and executive director of a small non-profit called Painter Palace.

And so what we do is we use art as a direct response to youth mental health.

and so like I said I came and had a conversation with her and she led me to Mr. Buchanan and he changed the whole trajectory of our work and so this last year we were able to help out 1500 kids with you guys' help and like I said I think that you know adding more to the budget and helping us out is going to be a huge deal for the community so thank you and appreciate it.

Thank you Javon.

Did I skip over Theo and Lori?

Theo goes first.

I mean, it doesn't really matter.

I want to say thank you to the council.

I'm Theo with Island Soul Restaurant, and I'm here, of course, to support as well.

We need intentional funding for small black business.

We have definitely been in a tough position and the opportunity that has been given has been changing rapidly over the last few years.

Equity is spelled M-O-N-E-Y and I am definitely reaching out for the support that you guys will honor her position.

Thank you.

Thank you, Theo.

Up next is Lori followed by Elizabeth Mack, Denisha Jefferson Abbey.

Hi, my name is Laurie Goff.

I am a member of the black community of Seattle.

We exist.

We are here.

All right?

That's what I'm doing here.

Here's the thing about Seattle.

Seattle prides itself on being progressive.

Progressive means nothing if you leave the black community behind.

That is important.

And I'm also tired of masking for white Seattle.

I'm tired of masking for everybody.

Please stop talking for us.

Stop using us to make sure you don't have to wear helmets.

We are here.

Talk to us.

I see that.

Talk to us.

Ask us what we need.

We need reparations.

Seattle, it was redlined, all right?

So we need some stuff back to us.

M-O-N-E-Y.

Hear me?

Thank you.

Amen.

Up next is Elizabeth Mack, followed by Denisha Jefferson Abbey, Peter Gishuru.

Morning.

Good morning.

I'm Elizabeth Mack, and I'm a nurse practitioner at the Tubman Center for Health and Freedom.

Thank you to Councilmember Solomon for sponsoring, and Councilmembers Wares and Hollingsworth for co-sponsoring the $6 million Tubman Health Center Neighborhood Improvement Project Request.

As I see in clinic every day, Tubman Health is building the infrastructure to advance Seattle's vision for health justice in thriving communities.

We are offering a model of care that is unique, centers the whole person, and provides trustworthy source of primary care.

Since 2020, we've opened two clinics and have raised over half of the $42 million project budget to open our third largest clinic, the Tubman Health Center.

We respectfully ask that you include the full $6 million project in the final budget so together we can bring this generational project for health, safety, and belonging to life.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Denisha followed by Peter and then Anita Adams and Robert S.

Good morning, my name is Denisha Jefferson Abbey.

I'm the COO and founder of the Tubman Center for Health and Freedom.

Thank you to council members Solomon, Juarez, Hollingsworth and Rink for standing in support of this work.

Tubman Health represents what's working in Seattle, a homegrown black and indigenous led institution and solution that puts people first.

We are already delivering services citywide and the Tubman Health Center project will allow us to further expand and broaden that work.

For too long, South Seattle has experienced deferred development.

The Tubman Health Center project is a chance to make things right, to make public infrastructure investments that uplifts our neighborhoods and makes a health justice investment that our neighborhoods deserve.

We respectfully ask that you include the full $6 million investment in the final budget.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Peter and then Anita and then Robert.

Good morning, Peter.

Good morning.

Good morning, council members.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

My name is Peter Gishuru.

I came to Seattle way back in 1963. I work with African Chamber of Commerce, which provide tools needed to African small businesses to succeed.

I ask you that to include us in the budget.

This community plays a very strong role We also connect companies with Africa, and more than ever, this need to continue.

I thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Anita, followed by Robert L., and it's either Cetri or Sefri Jr.

Again, my apologies for my learning.

Thank you for giving us the time today.

I stand here before you as a longtime public servant, like yourselves, who worked on race and social justice initiatives.

I am here today representing the Black Homeowners Policy Council, Black Legacy Homeowners, and Wanawari's Case 21 work.

There is much to do.

When I was younger, I worked at the city and I had almost five different mayors during my time there.

But I always envisioned a city where it would be my turn.

It would be my turn and my community and my family and my elders could pass the baton to us and we could take the reins.

I miss that opportunity without the support but Councilmember Hollingsworth's amendments has given our community an opportunity to realize the city that we can all live in and grow in together like the system.

Thank you.

Please do feel free to add any public comments in writing.

Council at seattle.gov goes to all of us at the same time, so you don't have to email us individually.

Robert, following Robert is Matt Johnston, Zach Coram, Joshua Raddick, Anila Bertone, Mitch G, Danny, Dan Nye, Alex Wheeler, Hillary Pinkerton, Kaya Bassnight, Eric Bell.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Robert L. Jeffrey.

I'm pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington.

I support Councilman Hollingworth's bill.

I also come to request an additional $10 million in rental assistance for people living in affordable housing.

This money is essential to keep people who have lost their jobs and people who are behind on their rent.

This money is essential to reduce the homeless population in our city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Robert.

Up next is Matt, followed by Zach and Joshua.

Hello, I want to thank Council Member Saka for supporting our project with an amendment and for Chair Strauss's previous support of skate parks in the past.

Please support what these people are asking for first, and then consider our project, which is a 1,500 square foot inclusive all wheels recreational facility in Morgan Junction.

It's overwhelmingly supported by the community based on Seattle Parks' own outreach.

Seattle Parks asked us to fund the design of this, which we completed with a $44,000 Department of Neighborhoods grant and $28,000 worth of community volunteer time.

We're now being told our project cannot be built because the construction funds are no longer available, so please help SPR follow through with its commitment and approve Councilmember Saga's amendment to support our project.

Thank you.

Thank you, Matt.

Up next is Zach, followed by Joshua.

Thank you, honorable council members.

On behalf of the Morgan and Seaview communities, including the kids and families there in West Seattle, I'm asking today for your support of Councilmember Saka's amendment to get this vital parks project over the finish line at this critical time.

The Morgan Junction All Wheels Association is ready to help the Park Service deliver this project cost-effectively and in a responsive fashion to the community.

It's really important that this park be accessible to all ages and all wheels and reactivate a blighted space in West Seattle.

Without approval of the amendment, this community supported all wheels.

Activation is at risk.

Thank you, and we can all deliver exceptional projects when we work together.

Thank you.

Thank you, Zach.

Up next is Joshua, followed by Anila.

Thank you.

As someone involved since day one of the cleanup and DIY project at Morgan Junction, I can attest to the beauty of watching our local community pitch in to start an amazing activation.

Teenagers taking brooms to school so they can clean up after school and enjoy the space Spending hours of their weekends helping us shape the layout and design of the DIY park Police officers stopping by thanking us for giving kids a chance to learn useful skills in working concrete and for building something they could easily keep an eye on from the road Even elderly neighbors coming by to cheer on kids and thank us for our hard work We all want to feel that the city is on the side of the community-driven improvements, that you will back the programs and progress that your constituents work hard to achieve.

I'm here to ask that the City Council back our plan at Morgan Junction with funding that the community has asked for repeatedly.

Thank you.

Thank you, Joshua.

Up next is Anila, followed by Mitch, Dan, Alex.

Good morning.

Hello, good morning.

My name is Analia Bertoni, the executive director of Villa Comunitaria in South Park, and I know this organization and this neighborhood very well because I started as a client in 2005. Villa Comunitaria is the place where Latino families find a safe space where to learn, collaborate, and thrive.

South Seattle College, we started a childcare in South Seattle College, but they are demolishing the building and we must leave.

We appreciate council member Rob Saka for being a champion and collaborating with us in the community to open the childcare and family center in the fall of 2027. And it is my hope that all council members can support the funding for this initiative as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Mitch and Dan, Alex, Hillary, Kaya, Eric.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Mitch Grosby.

I live in Beacon Hill.

In 2020, during the COVID shutdown, I volunteered and stepped in as director of Greater Seattle District Garden Clubs.

Some of these clubs are over 100 years old.

If I hadn't stepped in, these district clubs would have folded.

Two years ago, I learned about this ancient forest in our backyards and and the need for preservation.

As a concerned citizen and member of Schmitz Park Restore, I strongly support funding the Schmitz Park Creek Restore project in the 2026 city budget.

As a member of local garden clubs and environmental steward, I saw the need to involve Thank you Mitch.

Thank you, Mitch.

I've just been reminded that if everyone speaks for 45 seconds, we will be here till after 11 a.m., so I'm gonna be a little bit more firm on the time has expired.

When you hear the bell, 10 seconds remaining.

Sorry that you are the first to hear the news, Mr. Nye.

Oh, good, Councilman Strauss.

Schmitz Park is a 53-acre undeveloped forest ravine that has a beautiful street.

It's the largest undisturbation force in Seattle.

The park is under threat due to the invasive species that have come in and also due to overuse by the public and the lack of the maritime species in its creek.

We are Schmitz Park Restore.

I'm Dan Nye, the executive director.

We started two years ago to work with the park and work alongside parks to help restore the park.

So we are on the ground already pulling ivy.

doing our things to improve the trails.

We have stewards and planners that are working to work with the parks.

And to do that, we need to do hydraulic and feasibility studies to see where the park can go to restore the street.

Thank you, Mr. Nye.

Please do feel free to use the super secret email, council at seattle.gov.

Alex, Hillary, Kaya, Eric.

Good morning Chair Strauss and Council Members.

My name is Alex Wheeler.

I'm the Vice President of the Highland Park Improvement Club, known fondly as HPIC, and I'm testifying in support of Council Member Saka's bid to increase appropriations to DON's Neighborhood Matching Fund.

In 2021, a fire destroyed the HPIC building.

Fortunately, we are on our way to rebuilding.

We already have shovels in the ground and we have demand.

This summer, we enrolled more than 350 members and welcomed over 1,000 neighbors to an empty parking lot.

An empty parking lot!

Of course, any investment needs a return.

Here are four.

Serve diverse communities.

Host neighborhood events.

and mutual aid efforts.

We need your help to finish the job.

Please support Councilmember Saka's investment to return HPIC to the fine people of Highland Park.

Thank you.

Thank you, Alex.

Hillary, Kaya, Eric, good morning.

Welcome.

Good morning, my name is Hillary Pinkerton, and I'm here on behalf of TC4.

We have families of five, two pregnant women, and we have like three weeks to go and nowhere to go.

Please fund us so we have a place to go, because it could be your mom, your son, your daughter, your grandchildren.

Thank you.

Thank you, Hillary.

Kaya?

Welcome, Kaya.

Hi, my name's Kaya Basnight.

I'm also here for TC4.

We're under share, of course, and we're here to ask for more funding and also a place for TC4 to go.

So with that being said, we have so many walks of life within our campsite that is ridiculous.

Sober, trying to be productive in the community, helping out neighboring banks and stuff cleaning parking lots.

We're active with feet on the ground in everything that we do.

So we just want to ask you guys for some more funding and a place to go.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kaya.

Up next is Eric Bell, followed by Greg H. Tom F. Monica Bell, Jamie Weir, Jeremy Cole, Rick Buscard, Scott Pinkman, Michael Bruner, Galen Van Horn, Blair Johnson.

Good morning.

Welcome, Eric.

Thank you.

Thank you, council members, for having us.

My name is Eric Bell.

I started a community cleanup group in the pandemic in West Seattle called The Cleaner Alka.

I'm here to advocate for Councilman Saka's CBA for additional funding for Seattle Public Utilities Adopt-A-Street program.

Our group saw areas of town that we wanted to improve on, so we reached out to Seattle Parks and SDOT workers we met in our neighborhoods, who we now collaborate on with weekly.

Last year, we held 300 organized events and volunteered 2,000 hours of time working with city agencies all around Seattle, not out of a sense of obligation, but out of a sense of fun and collaboration.

I believe we found a recipe that is working, but we need the support, so the prospect of Councilman Saka's funding is a great one, and I hope you can consider that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Eric.

Greg H. Tom F. Monica Bell.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Yes, I'm Greg H. Anyway, I'm here with Eric Bell to support SPU, who's with their Adopt the Street program, really helps us out.

We're a voluntary group at Cleaner Alki.

We've cleaned up 62,000 pounds of trash throughout the Seattle area.

Rob, I think he was on one of those and So yeah, I'm here to support and increase funding for SPU so we can keep our boots on the ground and keep doing what we're doing.

Thank you.

Thank you, Greg.

Up next is Tom followed by Monica and then Jamie.

Tom, good morning.

Good morning to you, Tom Freberg, and I'm here to support a cleaner Elki, Eric Bell.

and just provide a little windage to what has been said about it, is it covers a pretty large area, Lincoln Park, Spokane Street Bridge, to Elkai Point, and maybe a little bit beyond that.

It provides the program.

the equipment, the training, and the time and place for us to do almost a daily activity, should we choose.

The last thing I'll say about it is it reminds me of a long ago New York program called the Broken Window program.

When a broken window gets fixed, it tends to stay fixed.

In this case, when an area gets cleaned up, it tends to stay cleaned up.

Thank you.

Up next is Monica, then Jamie, Jeremy, Rick.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Monica Bell and I'm here to express my support to increase the SPU budget for additional community cleanup services.

I've seen the powerful impact of a cleaner Alki in my neighborhood.

This group has shown that when residents are empowered, they don't just complain about problems, they help solve them.

During cleanups, I've had people stop to thank us, ask how they can join, and I've seen other neighbors, inspired by a cleaner Alki, clean up areas in their neighborhood.

and I think with the additional help, a cleaner Alki, the SBU support would amplify this positive momentum citywide.

Thank you.

Up next is Jamie, Jeremy, Rick, Scott, Michael, Galen, Blair.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Jamie Weir, and I'm here in support of a cleaner Alki.

I've lived in Seattle my whole life.

I've lived in many different areas of Seattle, from Capitol Hill to the U District to Queen Anne, Fremont.

I've moved all over.

that time I've always tried to help the area and get to know the neighbors and get along.

I've lived in West Seattle now for 30 years and work with a cleaner Alki and we as volunteers really do a great job with- Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Jeremy, Rick, Scott, Michael, Galen, Blair.

Good morning, my name is Jeremy Cole.

I am here in support of SPU-002A.

Thank you, Council Members Saka, Hollingsworth, and Nelson for that action item to allocate $100,000 additional to Adopt-A-Street.

I moved to Seattle three years ago into the Highland Park neighborhood, and I have been working with Adopt-A-Street since shortly after moving.

I've personally collected almost 700 of those big yellow bags of litter from all across the neighborhoods in South Seattle, as well as joining dozens of the cleanup events run by a Cleaner Alki.

The magic of Adopt-A-Street is that almost anyone can pick up litter, fix drains, trim vegetation, and Eric's Cleaner Alki and similar programs make that easy for anyone to join.

There's no Seattle freeze when we're all knee-deep in

Thank you.

Up next is Rick, Scott, Michael.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Rick Bogard here in support of SPU002A.

Cleaner Alki along with Adopt-A-Street.

Adopt-A-Street program, I'm thrilled you guys support that and fund that.

Jenny Frankel is the most awesome coordinator anybody could, a community group could ever want to work with.

We will have, with her help, we will have been responsible for helping facilitate pulling, for example, 600 tires out of the West Seattle Greenbelt that have been dumped illegally there.

I personally have picked up 24,000 pounds of trash in the past three years.

At our first All Hands event, we picked up over 5,000 pounds of trash out of the West Seattle White Center neighborhood in one event.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Scott Michael Galen.

Scott, good morning.

I come before you today to support Councilmember Saka's proposal to direct funds to support United Nations All Tribes Foundation's work to strengthen families and assist youth who are in and transitioning out of foster care.

I'm inspired by the work of our local and state governments that they're doing and tribal governments in the name of equity, but discouraged by what the federal government is doing in the name of equality.

Native life ways are numerous, but have commonalities that do not align with the federal system that seeks to return to assimilationist ways.

Our nations are too familiar with the impacts of assimilation policies.

Please help the United Nations of all tribes support our indigenous families.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pinkman.

Up next is Michael Galen Blair, and then I'll call out the next 10 names after this next speaker.

Good morning.

I am Michael Brunner, representing MOCA, the Morgan Community Association in West Seattle.

Among our charter is acting as advocates for the Morgan Park Annex Project, that has been ongoing since the Seattle Park's land bank site was purchased in 2014. Today, I'm adding our support to budget amendment allocating $700,000 specifically for a skate dot feature to be added to the Morgan Park design.

MOCA has been working closely with NJWA, the All Wheels Association, to believe that the proposed design represents the wishes of our community and will optimize usage of the park site.

please support the increase in operation to the Seattle Parks for New Park Development Capital Improvement Program for construction of a skate dot as part of Morgan Junction Park Edition.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Galen, Blair, and then following Blair will be Dina Johnson, Kay Kirkpatrick, Aaron Goodman, Billan Adden, Borker Isaac, Sandy Shetler, Andrea Blue, Deborah Brose, Tim Neal, Marisha Figueroa.

Hi, everyone.

My name is Galen Van Horn.

I'm here as a father of two-year-old twins and as a volunteer in the Highland Park neighborhood and on behalf of the over 11,000 residents of the Highland Park and Riverview neighborhoods to support Councilmember Saka's amendment to finish the final 50% of the Highland Park Improvement Club rebuild.

Now is a critical time for community connection in our neighborhoods.

There's an epidemic of loneliness in our nation.

There are forces pitting neighbors against each other.

We need places where we can connect.

There is no community center within walking distance of our neighborhoods.

So this is a critical place for us to meet.

Right now it's an empty lot.

It's a blight on our neighborhood.

Rebuilding it will bring investment in arts and culture to our neighborhood and local businesses.

Thank you.

Thank you, Gleilin.

Up next is Blair.

Good morning, my name is Blair Johnson.

I'm speaking in favor of Councilmember Saka's proposed budget amendment to support rebuild of the Highland Park Improvement Club in West Seattle.

As a former HPIC trustee, I have seen how this facility can bring neighbors together and help foster a sense of community.

City funding of the rebuild will leverage further state and private funding, ensuring that HPIC can continue to provide a platform for the creativity of our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Dina and followed by Kay.

Dina, good morning.

I'm Dena Johnson.

I'm speaking to Rob Saka's proposal for the rebuild of the Improvement Club.

The fire destroyed a space of great value to the community.

I documented volunteer teams doing remodeling, landscaping, roofing, organizing social events, showcasing local businesses, art, music, networking, and food distribution during COVID.

while dealing with the upkeep of a 100-year-old building.

Neighbors and leadership are ready to start rebuilding better.

We have a plan, a nice courtyard, and a hole in the ground.

Thank you for considering this generosity to our community.

Thank you, Dina.

Up next is Kay, Erin Goodman, Billan Aden.

Thank you.

I'm here to speak in favor of Councilmember Saka's amendment investing $2.6 million via the Department of Neighborhood's appropriation tomorrow in support of rebuilding the 105-year-old Highland Park Improvement Club nonprofit destroyed by suspicious fire in 2021. Let me emphasize to you how much this funding means to the HBIC Rebuilding Project.

This will bring online a shared space available to all to use and gather at the heart of our neighborhood, an area with historic disadvantages and lack of public investment.

This money means so much more than the percentage of our funding it will provide.

There are no other city facilities serving our neighborhood.

We know it takes more than housing units to create community and community is the foundation of our safety.

Thank you, Kay.

Up next is Aaron Goodman followed the lawn.

Good morning.

I'm Erin Goodman, Executive Director for the Soto Business Improvement Area, and I want to begin by thanking Councilmember Saka for his leadership in advancing two amendments that directly address critical issues in Soto.

First, I strongly urge your support for the Soto Transit Study.

Over the next decade, major infrastructure projects, including Sound Transit's light rail expansion, will disrupt essential transportation routes that workers, freight, and customers rely on every day.

This study is vital to identify mobility gaps, first and last mile needs, and the concrete steps necessary to safeguard Soto's jobs.

I also urge your support on the policy review for unlicensed vending.

Thank you, Aaron.

Up next is Balan, Aborker, Sandy, Andrea, Deborah, Tim, Marisha.

Good morning Council Members, my name is Belen Aden and I'm the Vice President and Co-Founder of African Community Housing and Development.

I want to express my strong support and gratitude to Council Member Bosaka's investment in the Seattle International Public Market and the Delridge Farmers Market.

These investments are pathways to equity and opportunity.

The Seattle International Public Market will be a cultural and economic anchor helping small entrepreneurs grow from pop-ups to permanent businesses.

creating good jobs and wealth that stay in our neighborhoods.

The Delridge Farmers Market serves thousands of families with healthy, culturally relevant food and provides vital income for small farmers.

Councilmember Saka's leadership reflects inclusive, community-driven growth and your continued investment will strengthen food access and economic opportunity across Seattle.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Aborker.

Good morning.

Hang on, we're going to pause.

If you want to actually just adjust the microphone all the way up.

Keep pushing it, because we want to hear what you have to say.

OK.

I want to express my strong support for the Council Member Sack's proposal to invest in the Seattle International Public Market.

This visionary project represents more than brick and mortar.

It's an investment in economic mobility, food access, and cultural fatality.

The Seattle International Public Market will be a hub for small business growth, helping local entrepreneurs, many of them immigrants and women.

This opportunity will create jobs, generate local revenue, and ensure that economic opportunity stays rooted in our community.

On behalf of ACHD, I want to thank Council Member Saka for his leadership and his support, and our council's support.

Thank you so much.

Up next is Sandy Shetler, Andrea Blue, Deborah Bowes, Tim Neal, Marisha Figueroa.

Sandy, good morning.

Yeah, hi.

I'm Sandy Shetler, and I support Councilmember Hollingsworth's amendments because I trust her to support Seattle's communities.

I'm also commenting in support of Councilmember Saka's Urban Forestry Consolidation SLI.

Nine different groups manage Seattle's trees, resulting in both redundancies, wasting resources, and silos where we lose trees.

For example, SDOT and SDCI run two completely separate systems for illegal tree removals.

I'll talk fast.

For SDOT, you call 684-TREAT or send an email to a tree address.

For SDCI, you call a different number or use the Acela portal, but you can't send an email.

Thank you, I'll tell you more later.

Thank you, Sandy.

Up next is Andrea, Deborah, Tim.

Andrea.

Andrea, my apologies again.

I learned to read in Ballard.

The H just kills it, right?

My name is Andrea Blue, and thank you guys so much.

I'm here in support of Council Member Hollingsworth's amendments for the block community.

I'm Andrea Blue, President and CEO of Make It a Difference Foundation.

To date, over the last decade, we've infused 93 million into the state of Washington black community.

We are here to say, hey, we need you guys to do your part, specifically around food.

We're also the owners of one of the largest food banks here in Washington state, serving 82,000 people per month, giving out 1.9 million pounds of food and we're in crisis.

We need food, we need culturally relevant food.

Are you aware that 26% of the people are people of color or experience food insecurity?

We need food.

We need food now.

Thanks.

Thank you.

And up next is Deborah.

Did I say it right?

I'm Deborah Brose.

Thank you, Council.

I am here today on behalf of the Georgetown Business Association and the Georgetown Coalition in support of Councilmember Saka's three budget amendments, the Georgetown Climate Resiliency Hub and Neighborhood Center, support for creation of new BIAs, and support for farmers markets prioritizing neighborhoods like Georgetown that are food deserts.

These amendments are important to the future of Georgetown and will help in gaining ground on some of the historic injustices our neighborhood has faced.

I'm sure most of you have visited Georgetown.

We have amazing businesses and arts and a wonderful community.

What we do not have is food access.

We don't have a gathering place to share neighborhood resources or funding mechanism that will help our neighborhood stay safe and sustainable.

I hope you all will support these amendments.

I welcome you to-

Thank you.

Up next is Tim Marisha, followed by Kelly Carlson, Neil Pater, Heather Carney, Marta Kidane, Tony Brooks, Molly Hardman Tan M, Noah W, Jeff Paul, Kara Williams.

Good morning, Tim.

Good morning.

My name's Tim Neil.

I'm here from the Georgetown Community Council in support of the three budget amendments put forth by Councilmember Saka that impact Georgetown.

I'm born and raised in Seattle, also learned to read in Ballard.

Georgetown's the first place I've lived in my whole life where I've known many of my neighbors because we take care of each other, and I'm asking the city today to take care of Georgetown.

That looks like three things.

One, the Georgetown Climate Resiliency Hub and Neighborhood Center.

We meet in living rooms, backyards, empty event spaces, or outside under the roar of jet engines.

We need real gathering space.

Two, support for the farmers' markets and food deserts.

In Georgetown, we know which gas stations provide the best fresh food because we have no other nearby options.

This year, we piloted a successful farmers' market with help from OSC.

We want continued support.

Three, creation of new BIAs.

Formation of a Georgetown BIA will help us create a consistent, stable source of funding to meet neighborhood needs.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Tim.

Up next is Marisa.

Almost.

Thank you for your time, council members.

My name is Marissa Figueroa.

I'm a small business owner and the organizer of the inaugural Georgetown Farmers Market.

I'm here today in support of Councilman Saka's three budget amendments, particularly in support of creation of new BIAs, in support of farmers markets, prioritizing neighborhoods that are food deserts.

Georgetown is considered a food desert and food access is extremely important.

We were able to pilot our first farmers market this year with help from OSE, but we need to continue to support to become established.

As Georgetown has grown, a gathering place that can provide resources to the community has become necessary.

These amendments will help us create a consistent and stable source of funding to meet the needs of our neighborhood.

Georgetown has been historically underserved and underfunded.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Kelly followed by Neil and then Heather.

My name is Kelly Carlson.

I'm here to testify in support of three of Councilmember Saka's budget amendments.

The Georgetown Climate Resiliency Hub and Neighborhood Center, support for new BIAs, and support for farmers markets, prioritizing neighborhoods who are food deserts.

I love Georgetown.

I love living there.

I can walk to dozens of restaurants, but I cannot walk to go buy an apple.

It just doesn't exist.

We are surrounded by industry, but there is no community space.

No library, no warming centers, yet some of my neighbors are the most vulnerable to severe weather events or disasters and are facing ongoing food insecurity.

Please support the amendment for the Climate Resiliency Hub that will help us create a physical space in Georgetown to support our neighbors and help us continue- Thank you, Kelly.

Up next is Neil, followed by Heather and Marta.

Thank you.

I'm Neil Patel representing Georgetown in support of Councilmember Saka's three budget amendments for climate resilience, farmers markets, and BIA startup funds.

Georgetown is a regional economic engine.

We create jobs and tax revenue across multiple sectors and will serve Seattle in the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

We are also a more than 80-minute walk from the closest organized emergency hub.

Within two decades in our lifetime, Seattle's seasonal tides will raise by two to four feet, which places most of the I-99 Michigan Avenue corridor underwater.

This era of tariffs, food insecurity, and resources finds us surrounded by a single fruit stand, which nearly closed two years ago at a Japanese grocer.

We are not prepared, but with the correct support, we can be.

Thank you Neil.

Up next is Heather and Marta.

Heather, good morning.

Hi, I'm Heather Carney and I live in Georgetown.

I serve as the board chair for the GCC, which is the Georgetown Community Council.

I ask you to support the three budget amendments proposed by Council Member Saka for the Georgetown Climate Resiliency Hub and Neighborhood Center, Farmers Market and BIA Outreach.

Because of this, these aren't just programs, they are about fairness, resilience and belonging.

Georgetown is a small but mighty neighborhood, creative, hardworking, full of people who look out for one another.

But we don't have the same shared spaces or basic resources that other neighborhoods take for granted.

So please invest in Georgetown to help us to build a supportive community that we reflect in our neighborhood culture.

And thank you to Council Member Sokka for this.

Thank you, Heather.

Up next is Marta, Tony, Molly.

Thank you council members for taking the time to listen to the community members here today.

My name is Marta Kidana and I'm the community engagement manager at Low Income Housing Institute.

First, I would like to thank council members, Nelson, Saka and Solomon for sponsoring this 2026 budget request for an additional 10 million in tenant based rental assistance to be allocated to the properties in the office of housing portfolio.

In order for Seattleites to afford the average two-bedroom apartment in Seattle, a resident would need to earn $51.37 per hour.

This is well above Seattle's minimum wage, which means many Seattleites are housing insecure.

An additional $10 million in rental assistance funding to directly support Office of Housing Affordable Housing Portfolio is necessary, and we also support Councilmember Ring's funding.

Thank you, Marta.

Up next is Tony followed by Molly and then Tan.

Good morning, Tony.

Good morning, council members.

Good morning, council members.

It's nice to be in the presence one more time.

And I come to support today Ms. Hollingsworth Amendments.

We need support in our community.

We need independence so that we can continue on in the community.

So thank you for just having us to come down and listen to us, but we really need what we deserve.

And there's respect and honor and dignity and pride.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Brooks.

Molly, then Tan, then Noah.

Good morning, Molly.

Good morning, council members.

My name's Molly Hardiman, and I work at the Low Income Housing Institute.

I'm here to express support for an additional $10 million to be allocated towards tenant-based rental assistance for nonprofit providers, sponsored by Council President Nelson.

Our city's affordable housing system is under incredible strain.

Tenants still struggle with economic and housing shocks due to the pandemic, and these challenges are only expected to worsen as federal and state budget cuts, including reductions to programs like SNAP, further strain household budgets.

This funding is a critical and preventative investment that will help stabilize households before they fall into homelessness.

Given this, it's especially important for the City of Seattle to prioritize this funding and stand by its vulnerable community members.

I urge you to add $10 million to tenant-based rental assistance and an additional

Thank you, Molly.

Up next is Tan, followed by Noah Jeff Kara.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Tan Makraeg, and I work at the Low Income Housing Institute.

I'm here again to request an additional $10 million be allocated towards tenant-based rental assistance for residents who live in affordable housing.

Both affordable housing providers and their tenants are struggling.

Our most housing-insecure neighbors get put into more and more precarious living situations.

These challenges are expected to worsen as essential programs like SNAP are at the mercy of federal and state budget cuts.

We must not only prioritize growing our housing supply, but also keeping our current tenants housed.

It is imperative that the City of Seattle prioritize this funding and stand by its vulnerable community members.

I urge you to please allocate an additional $10 million to TenantBate Rep.

Thank you, Tan.

Up next we have Jeff, Kara, and then I'm gonna read the following 10 names after that.

Rita Merrer, Lisa Kois, David Lieberman, Hillel Echo Hawk, Jason A, Brandy McNeil, Dave Glogger, Chris Lee Keenan, brother Steve Jerby, Joey Lopez.

Jeff, good morning.

Are you Noah?

Yes.

I skipped you.

Welcome, Noah.

Let's go.

Good morning.

Thank you, council member.

My name's Noah Williams.

I'm a member of the Transit Riders Union.

I'd like to ask the council to support the amendments for $10 million in housing assistance for low-income residents and $1 million in tenant services.

In addition to being the right thing to do, morally speaking, there are mechanisms to defend Seattle, starting with our most vulnerable neighbors.

The 40% cuts to HUD's budget and the cuts to SNAP are an act of economic warfare by the Trump administration.

It's designed to cite civil unrest.

They want videos of people desperately taking food from grocery stores and being forcibly displaced from their homes so they can further their authoritarian crackdowns on crime.

Don't let this happen.

Please defend Seattle starting with our most vulnerable neighbors.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Now we're up to Jeff.

Jeff, good morning.

Welcome.

All right.

Good morning, council.

My name is Jeff Paul, and I'm with How's Our Neighbors, and we fully support these desperately needed investments in rental support and tenant services.

I want to thank council members Solomon, Nelson, and Saka for supporting $10 million in additional investments and rental assistance for low-income tenants.

Everyone in the housing world, from providers to tenants, know how desperately needed this is.

We literally could not possibly invest enough in this effort, so I really appreciate it.

I also want to thank Council Member Rink for supporting $1 million in tenant services.

Keeping people inside with strong tenant services that support folks is such a crucial upstream investment that does so much to address housing instability in the long term, and we have to remember that and we have to keep investing in it.

So I really support it.

Thank you so much for your support and have a good one.

Thank you.

And my apologies, I can't tell if it's Kara or Kara.

Good morning, either way.

It's Kara.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Kara Williams.

I work at the Low Income Housing Institute.

I'm here to express my gratitude to Council President Nelson for sponsoring the request to add 10 million in the 2026 budget to support tenant-based rental assistance.

This money is needed because our city's affordable Housing system is under significant pressure.

Tenants are still struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and are facing impossible decisions as the federal government cuts essential social services and housing assistance.

These dollars would help stabilize households who are at risk of falling into homelessness.

Eviction prevention programs are a proven method to prevent homelessness.

I ask that you please take this opportunity to keep your constituents housed and include the additional $10 million for tenant-based rental assistance in your balancing packages.

I also support

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Up next is Rita Lisa David.

Good morning, Rita.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Rita Meher.

I'm the co-founder and the executive director of Tasvir.

Thank you, C.P.

Nelson, C.M. Rink, and C.M.

Solomon for sponsoring us.

I'm here to urge your support and investment in Tasvir Film Center for Accessibility Upgrades, a 105-year-old building that's now owned by Tasvir.

We are a nonprofit that has been serving our community for 23 years, but seeking direct support for the first time in our history.

Today, we are globally recognized as the home of the world's only Oscar-qualifying South Asian Film Festival, headquartered in Seattle.

Here we are Seattle's Pride, and people attended for 23 countries, and we are boosting arts and a thriving film center in Columbia City, boosting food traffic, uplifting local...

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Good morning.

Up next is Lisa, followed by David then Hillel.

Thank you, council members.

I am here in support of President Nelson's proposal for Tesfier funding to revitalize the Arc Lodge cinema in Columbia City.

The Arc Lodge has a long history as a cultural center dating back to 1920, serving Columbia City and more broadly the Central District and South Seattle.

As you know, movies have the power to bring diverse communities together around a shared experience to promote connection and dialogue, to educate and enlighten and to inspire.

We need more of these shared spaces in today's fractured world.

Tesphere is in a unique position to not only revive the cultural cornerstone, but also to deepen its community impact, extending the Tesphere mission of lifting South Asian voices to more broadly creating a space dedicated to the voices and the- Thank you, Lisa.

Up next is David, followed by Hillel and Jason.

Good morning, council members, long-time listener, first-time caller.

My name is David Lieberman.

I'm an architect and non-profit housing developer, and I care deeply about this city, its neighborhoods, its people, its small businesses, and the places we all cherish, much like the building we're in today.

It's refreshing for a moment to speak not about Seattle's problems but about its future.

Seattle has always been a place that builds.

Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, Light Rail, and now the Waterfront Park.

each generation leaving something behind for the next.

The Seattle international public market continues that legacy.

It's a chance to invest in a forgotten part of our city and transform an area by Westcrest Park into a center of culture, entrepreneurship, and civic excellence.

The market will house small businesses, a teaching kitchen, and a community gathering space.

This is civic pride in action, proof that Seattle can instill build bold buildings.

Thank you, David.

Up next is Hillel, followed by Jason, Brandy, Dave.

Morning, members of the council.

I'm Hillel Echo Hawk, a cook at Chief Seattle Club, a member of the Meals with Partnership Coalition.

Thank you for our council members.

This funding supports the Chief Seattle Club's cafeteria, food bags, and multiple other food programs throughout the year.

With SNAP benefits being cut, our members are increasing.

Statistically, indigenous people have the highest homeless per capita, and in 2026, it will be harder to serve our members if this funding is not expanded.

Again, I urge the full council to ensure that the modest investments included in the mayor's budget are reflected in the final budget.

Thank you.

Up next is Jason and Brandy and Dave.

Good morning, members of the Council.

My name is Jason Austin with the Meals Partnership Coalition.

I want to thank Mayor Harrell for including investments in meal programs in his budget.

I also want to say thank you to Councilmember Hollingsworth and Councilmember Saka for pursuing additional resources for senior meal funding.

The 50 members of the Meals Partnership Coalition are the front line of defense against hunger in Seattle.

They produce over 4 million meals each year in every neighborhood across the city.

One of our members, the Southeast Seattle Senior Center, has seen their meal counts increase by over 100% in the last year.

They ran out of their annual congregate meal funding in June and are continuing to feed their seniors regardless.

With SNAP benefits turning off next week, our members need as much resources as they can get.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Up next is Brandy, then Dave Glogger, Chris LaKeenan, brother Steve Jerby, Joey Lopez.

Good morning.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Brandi McNeil, and I'm the Deputy Director at Purposing of the Action, or PEA, which project manages LEAD.

I urge you to approve the proposed funding for LEAD.

We deeply appreciate the focus on substance use disorder that Council President Nelson has championed and other council members have rightly insisted on.

The proposed funding isn't about expansion, it's about stability.

It replaces one-time dollars that have disappeared, allowing LEAD to continue serving people whose substance use disorder, unmet behavioral health needs, and extreme poverty most impact public safety.

LEAD was created out of the Racial Disparity Project in response to disproportionate impact of the criminal legal system on the black community.

Sustaining LEAD is a commitment to racial equity, public health, and real public safety.

Please invest in what works.

Thank you, Brandy.

Up next is Dave Glogger, Chris LaKeenan, and Brother Steve Jerby.

Good morning, Council.

I came here this morning with the sole intent of speaking in support of Councilmember Saka's SLI to study a unified tree department.

And I still ask for your support, because if you ran a business with nine different departments doing the same thing, you'd be fired.

But having heard the support for Councilmember Hollingsworth amendments, I ask you to support them as well.

It's been said that Seattle is a progressive city, so let's prove it.

Let's support the black community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chris LaKeenan followed by brother Steve Jerby, Joey Lopez.

Good morning, Council.

My name is Chris Lee Keenan.

I'm a volunteer and board member for Community Lunch on Capitol Hill.

And I'm here to thank Councilwoman Hollingsworth and Councilmember Saka for their support for meal programs.

We're asking for money, so I figured you'd like some numbers.

Our budget is $430,000, $88,265.

That's the number of meals we served last year.

Each meal came to $4.87.

66,425, that's the city's contribution to the meal.

That's 75 cents per meal.

My last number is one.

A guest came up to me last week and said, Chris, I had an apple before I went to bed last night from yesterday's lunch.

Thanks so much.

She thanked me for one apple.

Thank you, Chris.

Brother Steve Jerby, followed by Joey Lopez, Kim Ford, Caleb Jackson, Hallie Willis, Hannah B, Sandy Atum, I think it's Hayward, Nikhil, and then Mr. Rye Jr.

Good morning.

I live, work, vote, and worship in District 4. We know that the Book of Exodus talks about when the people are in the wilderness, that manna comes down from heaven.

It is a great story of faith and a terrible foundation for policy.

Food will not come from heaven.

It needs to be funded.

We need a Seattle budget that is going to respond to food crisis in our city.

Faith communities, food banks, and meal programs cannot do it with current funding.

We need to address root causes of poverty with human services, housing, and community-led responses to violence.

Thank you.

Joey?

My name is Joey Lopez.

I'm an executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle.

Our migrant neighbors are living in fear, and that is compounded by the persistent surveillance by federal agencies and the downfalls of our state and local safeguards to protect our neighbors.

It is important that our migrant neighbors are protected.

Councilmember Rink's amendment to the OIRA budget to secure staffing for years to come is a step in supporting our neighbors.

Budgets are a moral document, speaking to the values of our city through public investment.

Last week's revenue forecast shows that we have the resources to invest in community care.

This is not an either-or conversation.

We're glad to see the steps these proposals are making to investments in our communities.

Over the next few weeks, we hope this council will continue to make bold choices.

Thank you, Joey.

Up next is Kim Ford, Caleb Jackson, Hallie Willis.

Good morning, can you hear me?

Yes, good morning.

Can we hang pause?

Can we restart her time?

Thank you.

Thank you, good morning.

I'm here representing community passageways and Dominique Davis along with several of our staff.

He is in Louisville, Kentucky at a gun violence prevention conference along with other leaders.

So I'm here to thank you for your time and for you to, Consider us in your budget, because Community Passageways, we serve individuals that a lot of other systems have written off, and we're hoping that you don't write us off, but I'm here to actually tell you a secret.

I think a lot of people think nonprofit organizations are nice to have, but we're actually essential, just like law enforcement and hospitals and city government.

oh my goodness and I want to let you know if you when you invest in us you're gonna get an amazing return on your investment one of our programs a re-entry program we served over a hundred people and only one thank you thank you Kim up next is Caleb Jackson followed by Halle Willis Hannah B

Hello, everyone.

Nice to see all of you again.

My name is Caleb Jackson.

I'm a third-generation South Seattle kid.

I've been in Seattle Public Schools.

My kids are in Seattle Public Schools.

And I also run a nonprofit.

I'm the executive director of an organization called Resource Equity.

We help homeowners in traditionally areas of high risk of displacement.

And we need your support.

I support Councilmember Hollingsworth's amendments to invest in communities that have been harmed, right, the black community.

I think that is imperative that we align with solutions and interventions that are truly community-led, not just talking points.

And thank you guys for all for having me.

Thank you, Mr. Jackson.

Up next is Hallie Willis, Hannah B. Sandia Toome.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Hallie Willis.

I'm the policy manager at the Coalition on Homelessness and a member of SHSC.

Everyone needs to have the housing that meets their needs, but our region is at risk of losing up to $67 million in federal HUD continuum of care funds that are keeping thousands of people safe and housed in our community.

This is your chance, oh sorry, HUD is poised to slash COC funding, de-prioritize organizations that promote racial equity, and they could reduce or eliminate our community's grant altogether.

This budget is your chance to make sure all the housing, shelter, and services that Seattle residents rely on can keep their doors open.

Add the additional forecast revenue to the reserve for federal cuts to housing, invest in wage equity, and make sure that people on expiry- Thank you.

Thank you, Hallie.

Up next is Hannah B, Sandia Toome, Hayward, Eval.

Hannah B?

Call their numbers too.

Hannah B, number 75. 75, 75. If Hannah comes back, we will come back to her.

Sandia Toome, Hayward, Eval.

Good morning.

My name is Sandi Atoum.

I'm the program manager with the Somali Family Safety Task Force.

10 years ago, our executive director, Farhia Mohamed, started working with the Somali community, East and West African.

And now she works with all the immigrants and refugees from all backgrounds.

We work with seniors, youth, and domestic violence.

We are here asking for your generous support in our suing program that's going to help the survivors of the domestic violence, especially like immigrants and refugees who does not speak English, to get a skill and then find a job or use that skill to get some money.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, Sandy.

And I'm doing a little bit more.

Hannah Bryant, I believe it is. we'll find out.

But I see we've got Hayward, followed by Nikhil, and then Mr. Rye.

Hello, thank you, council members.

We are truly appreciative of having this opportunity.

I'm gonna start off by saying I'm a past board member of the African Chamber of Commerce with Peter Gashora, and I support his budget amendment for $150,000.

I know it's late, but please take it into consideration.

Also, you've all received an invitation to the African American Forum this Saturday at Bell Harbor.

Starts at 10 in the morning, goes to 10 at night, and a representative for Mombasa, Seattle's sister city, who has that big exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo, is gonna be there.

And then my second one, I'm on the board of directors of the Central District Community Preservation Development Authority, 22nd and Jackson Street.

I encourage all of you to come by, meet with Char E. Boer and see what you can do to make our building a success.

Third one, the Martin Luther King Gaudi Empowerment Initiative.

Please, let's get the money.

Ed's gonna talk more about that.

Martin Luther King Commemoration Committee, you're all gonna receive an invitation.

Joy Hollingsworth is one of the award recipients in the past, and the woman was named after her mother, Dorothy Hollingsworth Public Service Award.

And finally- I'm not supposed to let you, your time's technically expired, but you were saying such nice things about Council Member Hollingsworth.

Thank you, Mr. Edwards.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Council at seattle.gov is the super secret email.

It emails all of us at the same time.

Mr. Rye Jr., floor is yours.

Thank you very much for the opportunity.

I do here to support the amendments that will help people on both sides of the aisle.

But I want to say that my name is Eddie Rye Jr.

I am chair of the MLK Ghanian Powered Initiative and Americans for Equality.

I'm also a founding member of the White State Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors.

I'm reading Councilmember Hollingsworth's little message.

We're talking about the black community being economically depressed.

We didn't have affirmative action for 24 years when Governor Gary Locke signed Governor's Directive 98-01 in 1998. It wasn't until 2202 before we got affirmative action restored.

At the end of that year, African Americans did 0.22%.

Last year we did 0.34%.

So African American community has been devastated by the lack of...

Thank you, Mr. Rye.

We have a couple more in-person.

Edwin Lindo, David Sarju, Jerry...

JoyT.

If you still wanna sign up, you can.

We do have 21 people online.

It has been an hour and 10 minutes.

We have heard from 80 people so far.

This is democracy in action, but we do gotta keep moving very quickly as I'm the one talking.

So with that, Edwin, David, Joy.

Great, thank you.

Edwin Lindo, founder of Estelitas Library, a cultural space, a cornerstone of the community, both in the city and in Beacon Hill.

We want to come and support both the amendments of Council Member Hollingsworth, but also of Rink, who came out and said, how do we preserve not only the work of the black community, but the systems of the black community and the history of the black community.

We're asking to support Tubman Center for Health, Langston, Lavender Rights Project, and our request is to host and protect and archive the Black Scholar Journal, which is the longest-running published black studies journal in the country and in the world.

And we can have that here in Seattle at Estanita's library.

The other thing I would say is we need to stop thinking on what our reaction is to Trump and what are we imagining beyond Trump?

And I think that is this work.

Thank you.

Up next is David and then Joy.

Good morning.

Thank you, honorable council members.

I am a four decades resident of the CD dating back to a time when black homeownership in Seattle rivaled white homeownership nationally.

I ask that you implement policies in ways that demonstrate fidelity with your stated values, with our stated values.

Seattle likes to define ourselves as data-driven, but our data must discern.

Black descendants of the Middle Passage and indigenous peoples are generous peoples.

We are relational, we're collaborative, and we welcome alliances.

We are often also used as poster children.

Ultimately, we are all connected.

Mutuality requires fidelity

Thank you, David.

Up next is Joy and then we're gonna go online.

Everyone who is called in online is present except for our good friend Lois Martin.

If anyone knows her phone number, send her a text right now.

Before you go Joy, I'm gonna read off a number of these names that are online.

We're gonna go June Blue Spruce, Alice Lockhart, Amarintha Torres, Mark Putnam, Joe Alvarez, Lois Martin, Stephanie Cement, Lynn Drake, Rachel Koo, and that's the first 10. With that, good morning, Joy.

Good morning council members.

I am here.

My name is Joy Promise.

I am the CEO founder of Eagles Nest Community Kitchen Mobile Pantry.

I'm here to support council members Hollinsworth's amendment, how important it is to have, to support the black communities that are desperately in need of resources.

We're an overlooked community and it is very important not just to get food out to food banks, but what about the families who have barriers, our transportation barriers, our children with disabilities?

So it's very important that we focus in every council member that has the same vision to support you.

But we do need change.

We need action.

We don't need a temporary fix.

We need a permanent solution.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Joy.

And colleagues, thank you for allowing me to use Chair's prerogative to extend public comment past the hour duration.

We are also gonna hear from number 79. My apologies for missing the name of the paper.

If you could state your name, that would be helpful.

Yeah, so I'm Nikki Gain.

I am the founder of a nonprofit organization called Dignity for Divas in support of Joy Hollingsworth.

And you know, it's kind of ironic that I was not called because that is typically the experience of a black person.

having a number and not getting access.

I appreciate you bringing me up here though, okay?

So this is real time.

Right now, I am in need of funding.

We are an organization that has served since 2012 over 70,000 men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in King, Pierce, and Snohomish County without any funding.

We need funding.

On the way here, we had nine people at our door looking for food.

Partnership with Feeding Feasible Feasts, no funding.

Please look us up.

Help us continue to help our population in need.

We can't keep

Thank you.

And with that said, if you'd still like to make public comment, you can sign up.

We are verging on the need.

We'll probably close public comment at 11.15, 11.20 if we're still going, just because we do have to get on to the business of today.

And we have a full city council meeting at 2 p.m.

With that, I'm going to call up the public commenters online.

June Bruce, Blue Spruce, Alice Lockhart, Amarantha Torres.

A reminder to our remote speakers to press star six once you've heard the message that you have been unmuted.

Thank you.

Clerk Schwinn, June, I see you are off mute.

Hello, I'm speaking in support of Council Member Saka's statement of legislative intent to study consolidating urban forestry oversight regulation and protection in one department.

Now nine departments have jurisdiction over tree canopy.

This causes inefficiency, duplication of efforts, lack of accountability and public confusion.

It harms our tree canopy and the health of our neighbourhoods.

But we can fix it.

I also support Councilmember Hollingsworth's amendments to promote investments that begin to repair the historic harm done to Seattle's Black community.

Her amendments reflect community-led priorities for restorative justice economic stability and intergenerational repair.

These two initiatives would move Seattle closer to economic, racial, and environmental justice.

Thank you.

Thank you, June.

Up next is Alice, followed by Amarintha.

Alice, I see you're here.

Star six to unmute.

We see you're off mute.

Take it away.

Good morning, council.

Good morning.

Good morning, council.

I'm Alice Lockhart.

Everyday Seattleites love and use the library.

It also provides critical services like internet and daytime shelter to our most vulnerable.

The mayor's proposed budget subtracts over 6 million, that's 5% of library funding cut from the endorsed budget that you all passed last year.

This is the deepest cut to any department providing direct service to the public.

Please make the library whole.

If need be, cut frivolity like FIFA and dangerous surveillance cameras that we recently learned are available to ICE and other federal agencies.

and please make the library whole before adding funding to departments not cut in the proposed budget, for instance, today's art amendments.

Also, thanks, Chair, for adding this Thursday's comment period.

We need it.

Thank you.

Up next is Amarentha Torres followed by Mark Putnam, Joe Alvarez following them.

With that, Amarentha, I see you're off mute.

Welcome.

Hi there.

Yes, good morning, Councilmembers.

My name is Amaranthia Torres.

I'm the co-executive director of the Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence.

We are proud to represent over 30 member programs who support survivors every day.

Today, I'm speaking in support of amendments OIRA 001, which proposes ongoing funds for our immigrant and refugee communities, OCR 010, which looks at reparations reports focused on housing, and IPB 010S, which requires reporting on the city's use of AI.

We support these amendments because survivors have intersecting safety concerns that these amendments can help to address.

Immigrant survivors may feel trapped in abusive relationships because of cruel immigration laws.

Black survivors face residual impacts of systemic racism and housing advocates work with them for safe and stable housing.

And finally new technology

Thank you, Amarentha.

Up next is Mark Zhou and then Lois Martin.

And Lois, thank you.

I do see that you are present.

Welcome, Mark.

Good morning, counsel.

Thanks for the opportunity.

I'm the chair of the King County Homeless Youth Service Provider Coalition representing 16 agencies and also I lead the YMCA of Greater Seattle Social Impact Center.

I'm testifying in support of the amendment sponsored by council members Hollingsworth, Mercedes Rinks, and Solomon to add $1.3 million for youth and young adult homelessness.

Youth homelessness is preventable and solvable.

Research shows that the top predictor of chronic adult homelessness is experiencing housing instability at a young age.

And thanks to coordinated investments and services across Washington, our state has made meaningful progress addressing youth homelessness.

of reducing homelessness by 40% over the last seven years.

But the progress is now at risk.

We need support.

Agencies are struggling to meet.

Thank you, Mark.

Up is Joe, Lois, and Stephanie Sismet.

Morning, council members.

My name is Eva Alvarez, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Seattle Planning Commission.

The commission urges council to support the vision crafted by Seattle in the comprehensive plan.

Committing to that vision requires adequately resourcing programs all across the whole spectrum of the plan's goals, from housing affordability to climate resilience.

We recognize that the council must balance many competing needs in the city's budget and suggest that the goals outlined in the comprehensive plan be used as a guide to prioritize where funds are directed.

The work ahead of the comprehensive plan goes beyond the scope covered by the proposed budget.

We recommend that council continue to support the excellent work of OPCD by providing additional funding for planning and community engagement during the upcoming implementation for the plan.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Lois Martin.

Good morning, Lois.

Followed by Stephanie and then Lynn Drake.

Good morning.

My name is Lois Martin.

I'm a member of the Black Homeowners Policy Council and a lifelong resident of the Central District.

Seattle calls itself progressive, but progress means nothing if Black people are still being pushed out.

For years, redlining and rising costs have taken Black homes, Black wealth, and Black stability.

Councilmember Hollingsworth's amendments are a step toward repair.

This is not charity.

This is about making things right and helping Black families and our youth stay in the neighborhoods we built.

I also want to say that I personally support the SLI from Councilmember Saka Rincon-Solomon.

to improve how the city coordinates tree and environmental work because our neighborhoods deserve care, too.

We are worthy of investment, not erasure.

Please, folks, yes.

And sorry for not unblocking at the beginning.

Thank you.

Thank you, Lois.

Up next is Stephanie Lindrake, Rachel Ku.

Stephanie, I see you're off mute.

Welcome.

My name is Stephanie Sisma, and I am the Assistant Director of the Community Dining Program at Sound Generations, a member of the Meals Partnership Coalition.

I want to thank Mayor Harrell for funding additional investments in meal programs.

I also want to thank Council Members Hollingsworth and SACA for supporting additional funding for senior meal programs.

Community dining provides fresh, nutritious and culturally relevant meals to older adults while socializing with others.

We are experiencing a high client demand for meals while also battling budget shortfalls and rising costs of food and supplies.

This funding would help our senior nutrition program meet the current demand of meals, avoiding reduction in meal service days or limiting daily attendance.

If this funding is not expanded in 2026, this could jeopardize our ability to meet the nutritional needs of older adults.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Lynn Drake, followed by Rachel Kuh.

But I see Monica Matthews has just come off mute.

Hang on, Monica.

We're going to come back to you.

Lynn, we are about to promote you.

There you are, Lynn, star six, and you're up next.

Lynn, you'll have to press star six.

Lynn Drake, there you are.

Welcome.

Good morning.

Hi, good morning.

I'm Lynn Drake.

I live in the Alki neighborhood.

I'm calling to support Councilmember Saka's CBA increase of $100,000 to support the community cleanup.

A cleaner Alki, which is one of these groups, has been a true bright spot in the Alki community.

Alki Bell's cleanup activities have brought so many community members together.

We've beaten back blackberry vines, growing on pathways, hauled tires off the beach, cleaned beaches after a crowded holiday.

and even came up with a way to vacuum bits of styrofoam off the rocky beach.

Everyone's creative.

Thank you very much, and I hope you support this.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Lynn.

Up next is Rachel Ku, Nicole Alexander, Eden Key.

Rachel, I see you're off mute.

Welcome.

Good morning, Council.

My name is Rachel Koo.

I'm the King County Policy Director at the Mockingbird Society.

We're an advocacy org for youth and young adults facing homelessness and foster care.

First, I just want to thank Councilmembers Rink, Solomon, and Hollingsworth for introducing an amendment to add $1.3 million to the budget for youth and young adult services.

I'm asking for the rest of the Council to please support this amendment.

Without this investment, our young folks face threats they rely on, especially with impending change We know that addressing youth and young adult homelessness early and intentionally prevents chronic adult homelessness.

Please prioritize protecting and sustaining the housing, shelters, drop-in services, and we already have in our city.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

And I see Nicole's already off mute.

Welcome up.

You went back on mute, Nicole.

Star six and it's your turn.

Nicole Alexander, I saw you were off mute just a second ago.

Star six to unmute.

There you are, welcome.

Thank you.

Good morning, my name is Nicole Alexander.

I'm the Director of Special Initiatives and Outreach with the Co-Lead Program at Purpose Dignity Action.

I'm calling in today in regards to the recovery housing stipend.

I want to start by thanking the Council and a deep thank you to Council President Sarah Nelson for her fight in giving folks the opportunity to start their recovery journey with the set-aside treatment beds.

What we have found is that our participants that are accessing these beds have started their stepping stones into recovery but we have learned that the process is needed in the next step.

Folks entering into recovery are best stabilized and successful when in the recovery community and for our folks that means access to recovery.

I speak of this from a person with 10 years of recovery where I started in recovery housing.

I urge the council to continue to support and build toward...

Nicole, thank you for your public comment.

Do feel free to write in.

I have Eden Key up next.

Eden, if you'd like to...

There you are, off mute.

Welcome.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Eden Chi.

I am a registered dietitian at Sound Generations.

We are a member of the Meals Partnership Coalition.

I'm here today to speak in favor of additional investments for senior meal programs.

Sound Generations fosters health and connection for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in King County.

Our community dining program provides culturally relevant meals to seniors in welcoming settings.

The meals often serve as the only source of nutrition and social interruption for food insecure seniors.

Without adequate funding, sites serving only one to two days a week risk closure, threatening the well-being and dignity of those we serve.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Monica Matthews, then Srijan Charkaborty.

Monica, welcome.

I see you're off mute.

Thank you, Seattle City Council and Budget Chair Strauss.

Hello, my name is Monica C. Matthews.

I'm the owner of Queen Care Products, a wellness company with locations in District 2 and 3. I am here in support of amendments being put forth by Council Member Joy Hollingsworth that focus on investing in and growing the economic development and stability of the Black community.

I have to state that we know what we need, and that is equity in action, and that is done by having budget line items that reflect the city's commitment to the Black community.

I want to make sure that we have a solid investment in place this budget cycle.

The average income for Black Seattle has been stagnant for 10 years.

This is simply not acceptable.

It's time for Seattle to not just talk about equity, but put it into action through budget investments.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is Sreejan, followed by Sandhya, Christine Moreland, Laurel Gray.

Srijan, welcome.

Hello.

Good morning, Council members.

Good morning, Council members.

My name is Srijan Chakraborty.

I'm one of the co-executive directors at Hungry Dimension Program, our head, a member of the Meals Partnership Coalition.

Clearly, I don't have to tell you how the food insecurity is on the right.

Families that we serve every day are struggling to put food on their tables for so many reasons, including food prices, reduced benefits, and now, obviously, the shutdown and Snapcards.

Now furthermore, increasing operating costs have made it really hard for us to keep meeting the growing needs.

That is why I appreciate Mayor Harrell's proposal for additional investments in meal programs, and I also want to thank Council Member Hollinsworth and SACA for supporting additional funding for senior meal programs.

I urge the full Council to ensure that these modest investments in meal programs are included in the final budget.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Up next is Sandhya, Christine Moreland, and Laurel Gray.

Happy Tuesday, everyone.

I'm Sandhya, and I'm here in support of Arts Sarsid funding.

I'm the board president of Sarsid.

This year has been historic for us.

We acquired the Art Cloud Cinema in Columbia City, making Sarsidh the first Caucasian organization in the country to own a theater.

More importantly, we made a commitment to preserve a community gathering space, a theater for collective viewing and connection.

Now, we urge you to support us to ensure that this theater remains safe, accessible, and a source of pride not just for South Asians but for every member of our community.

This year also marked our 20th film festival and the second year of the film market through which we bring global media houses and industry leaders to Seattle showing them the city's creative energy and the state's potential to lead the global creative economy.

Thank you.

Up next is Christine Moreland, Laurel Gray, Karen Taylor, Kate Rubin, Orla Concanon, Jennifer Godfrey, David Haynes, and Amijah Smith.

Christine, I see you're off mute.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Good morning, council members.

I'm Christine Moreland with The More We Love.

I'm a recovery-based program here to support the recovery housing stipend.

Seattle's made a meaningful progress in addressing addiction and homelessness, and recovery is finally being recognized as a central part of the solution.

That's real progress and we're on the right track.

So for this to truly work, harm reduction must be supported by a clear and immediate pathway to recovery.

We cannot ask for harm reduction without ensuring that when somebody is ready to take the next step, there is a door open to them right then, not weeks or months later.

That's why the recovery housing stipend is vital.

It bridges the gap between crisis stabilization and long-term recovery.

It ensures that when somebody says, I'm ready, it's a stable place for them to go, somewhere to rebuild their lives.

This is how we move from managing crisis to transforming lives, making harm reduction and recovery work hand in hand.

Thank you, Christine.

Up next is Laurel Gray, followed by Karen Taylor, Kate Rubin.

Laurel, I see Laurel, you're up next.

I see you're off mute.

There you are.

Welcome.

Good morning, members of Council.

I'm Laurel Gray, Deputy Director at OSL Serves and a proud member of the Neals Partnership Coalition.

Thank you Mayor Harrell for investing in meals and Council Members Collingworth and PACA for supporting additional funding for Senior Mayor Program.

OSL serves nearly 7,000 meals daily to our most vulnerable neighbours.

With rising costs, shrinking resources and skyrocketing need, we rely on the City's partnership to help keep our community nourished.

Your support allows us to continue purchasing high-quality ingredients that nourish, not just feed.

If this funding isn't expanded in 2026, our guests will feel the impact.

If your neighbour is hungry, how can any of us be truly full?

Food security is public safety and public safety is everyone's responsibility because community is the heart of our beautiful city.

I urge the full council to ensure these critical investments in meal programs remain in the final budget and I thank you for your time.

Thank you, Laurel.

Up next is Karen Taylor followed by Kate Rubin, Orland Concanon, Jennifer Godfrey, David Haynes, and Maja Smith.

You are not present so you'll need to call in.

Karen, I see you're off mute.

Welcome.

Hi, I'm giving public comment to support council member Riggs' amendment to add 1 million to tenant services.

Tenant services organizations have made a huge difference in my life and my friends' lives.

And unlike certain specific community projects, this is something that affects all renters all over the city and I think it should be a big priority.

Thank you.

Thank you, Karen.

Up next is Kate Rubin followed by Orla Concanon.

Kate, I see you're off mute.

Welcome.

My name is Kate Rubin.

I'm the co-executive director of B Seattle and a renter living in District 2. I'm speaking today in support of Councilmember Rink's amendment to restore $1 million to tenant services and Council President Nelson's amendment to add $10 million for affordable housing rental assistance.

Thank you to Councilmembers Saka and Solomon for co-sponsoring these amendments.

Last year's nearly 40% cut to tenant services severely reduced access to legal aid, education, and other supports for thousands of renters.

Evictions are at record highs, and more people are experiencing homelessness now than ever before.

The most cost-effective way to address homelessness is prevention.

When rental assistance is terrible with tenant services, it becomes far more effective, ensuring resources are effectively used to keep people stably housed.

With federal threats coming, we need to focus.

Thank you.

Up next is Orla Concannon, followed by Jennifer Godfrey, David Haynes.

Amaija, you're still not present.

Call in now.

Orla- Good morning, council members.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

And we have restarted your time.

Good morning.

Thank you so much.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Orla Kincannon and I'm expressing support of the SLI put forth by council members Saka, Solomon and Rank to look at an independent urban forestry.

We need to remove the confusion and inefficiencies due to up to nine city departments overseeing our city's trees.

and I also support Councilmember Howling's worst amendment to invest in our black community.

Thank you.

Thank you, Orla, Jennifer, David, and Imaija, you're present.

Awesome.

Jennifer, I see you're off mute.

Welcome.

Hi, thank you.

Good morning, everyone.

I am speaking in support of the Councilmember Saka-Rink-Solomon amendments for the SLI to consolidate care for Seattle's climate protective for use into one department, and Councilmember Hollingsworth's amendments to repair historic harm to Seattle's Black communities.

And also, I would like there to be support for Indigenous communities by supporting the work of the UIAT.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Jennifer.

Up next is David Haynes, followed by Amijah Smith, and then we'll double check to make sure that there's no additional in-person commenters.

David, good morning.

Hi.

How many millions of dollars are being spent based on racist skin color priorities?

It's like you all are giving millions of dollars to the Black Panther Party, and something about reparations in the Central District.

And you take the entire budget with the priority to keep black and brown repeat offending criminals out of jail.

You even pay gun-toting criminals to move or pay their rent so that they don't retaliate.

How many millions of dollars are being squandered in this budget by an office of the brown community that keeps bullying and intimidating and playing the race card?

Why is it that the Democrats and only the Democrats were the ones who- Thank you, David.

Amaija, I see you're off mute.

You're the last one to speak to us today.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Wow, I have to come behind such ignorance.

I just want to say that I'm here calling in to support Council Member Hollingworth proposal or looking into correcting harm.

It's about restoration, it's about correcting harm with our previous policies that have really harmed many communities, but particularly the black community in the Central District.

So I just called to say that without much detail.

And I just appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Maja.

I'm gonna confirm with the clerks and with IT that we have no additional public comment registrants present at this time.

That's all?

That's all we have, thank you.

We're both registered for the commenters.

We got somebody that signed up on a comment card, come on up.

Just state your name for the record, we'll need to get your name on this piece of paper.

We are excited to have you.

You are our final speaker for this morning.

Well, hold on just a second.

We're gonna make sure your microphones are good to go.

How about test it now?

Test.

Maybe use the taller one.

Test.

Jody, are the mics on or no?

The mics are on.

Okay, then just as we say Mick Jagger.

I don't have a timer right now, but we'll time it.

Fantastic, I'm gonna time you.

We started moving ahead and we are always working here.

Don't have a timer.

Just one second.

At your convenience, and we've got 45 seconds, I'll give you a 10 second warning with my hands.

Great, thank you.

Thank you, City of Seattle Council.

Just wanted to say a quick note today.

Thank you for allowing me a chance to have public comment and the last comment.

I just wanted to come here and show support for Councilmember Hollingsworth Amendment to invest in the black community, historical black community here in the City of Seattle.

I just want everyone to know that it is important as we continue to repair the harm, as stated, over decades and over the last couple centuries here in the city of Seattle as well as the state of Washington.

My name is Katesha.

I'm the founder and managing director of Urban Black.

We are a mission-based real estate development company and also do historic preservation, and I just want to come and affirm and support the initiative as well.

So thank you today.

Thank you.

And you nailed the time without even having a timer.

Thank you so much.

Seeing as we have no more public comment registrants present, the public comment period is now over.

I will admit I skipped a section of this morning's opening where we approve the agenda.

So on today's agenda, we have a number of items, and we're gonna break out Council Member proposals into departments.

Today is the many smaller departments and then we will move into the other departments throughout this week.

So we have the introduction and budget proposal overview, finance general, city budget office, office of the mayor, office of civil rights, office of arts and culture, office of department early learning, city attorney's office, Seattle Municipal Court, Office of Emergency Management, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Office of Labor Standards, Seattle Public Utilities, Office of Hearing Examiner, Seattle Information Technology Department, Seattle Department of Human Resources, Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

If there's no objection, the agenda will be adopted.

Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted.

Colleagues, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised with the number of people that came out to public comment today.

This is demonstration that democracy is alive and well here.

Democracy is healthy in the city of Seattle.

We on this dais and every city employee work daily to improve and maintain our democracy and today was a good example of that.

There's so much going on in this world that today is really heartening.

I'm gonna take a liberty here as your chair.

I'm gonna read the preamble to the Constitution because that's what I was called to this morning, which is we the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I share those words with you today because I believe that that is our premise for the work that we are about to undertake with our city's budget in order to maintain and improve the democracy here in the city of Seattle and so for the rest of our nation.

We do have good news from last week.

We had a good forecast.

The bad news is that council member proposals far exceed that good forecast.

We cannot fund every proposal to 100% and this includes me and my proposals today and for the rest of this week.

I've done my level best to include as many of my proposed items for my proposed chairs package as possible so that colleagues, you and the public have insight into what may be included in the chairs package.

As has been true every year, items can be included in the chairs package that are not presented in this section of the budget.

You can see from the list of my proposals I've over-indexed, including nearly everything that I will consider, to the fully requested amount by community.

but because I proposed it is not a guarantee, it will be included in my package as presented this week because again, we all have to work together to move all of our goals forward.

This step in the budget process did not exist last year.

This is part of the budget reform of the process.

This step is added and designed to daylight council member proposals to increase transparency and collaboration.

That means that this week our task is to work together to appropriately scale and possibly combine our efforts.

That's our work, that's our charge for this week is working together to scale and potentially combine our efforts to a shared common goal.

I'm gonna list a little bit of the operations for this week and then we're gonna jump right in.

For each council member proposal, it will be read in and described by central staff.

They are our fact analysts and so it's not necessarily their job to be persuasive as much as we want them to do.

That will be our job up here as the prime sponsor.

And so we will have central staff present, we will have the prime sponsor have first word, we'll then have questions and answers.

And then this is a step that we did, we were also able to improve from last year.

We have a new budget tracker up.

It's different than what we had two years ago.

So public has feedback on how it's working compared to what we had, which was award winning previously.

If you've got feedback, please let us know.

Council members, at the end of each proposal, I will ask for co-sponsors.

You will raise your hand on Zoom.

I will call out your name.

Central staff will confirm that we got that correct or not.

This process is in order to move us forward and as efficiently as possible.

During the last two sections of our budget process, it has been discussion based.

We have been discussing with departments, we have been discussing with central staff the overview and overarching and specific aspects of our budget.

Today we are moving into proposals and then next week we will have chairs package and we will be voting on amendments.

From here onward in this budget process, I will be using Robert's rules in a more formal fashion than as I've been a little bit more loose as I've been reminded that I might need to take a Roberts Rules training because I've been allowing a lot of discussion rather than facilitating the conversation.

My facilitation is just that.

It's in order to move us forward.

So that also brings us to operational questions.

I will check in with the council members that I haven't spoken to already.

if this goes long, meaning that if I continue to talk for another 20 minutes, that we will either need to add time on Wednesday night or Thursday night, or we will need to add a session on Friday.

We will also have public comment on Thursday morning because not all council member proposals have been published and the public comment period of this morning was intended to speak to council member proposals.

But if the public can't see those proposals, we're at odds with ourselves, which is why we have another public comment period.

That will only last one hour.

I will be strict about that on Thursday.

It will only last one hour and I ask the advocates who are thinking about coming to please only come if you are speaking to items that have not been published before because again we have a public hearing next week.

Back to right now, we have the decision of do we go late on Wednesday and Thursday or do we add Friday?

I'll come and check with you.

I know that I have at least one council member who thinks we should go late Wednesday, Thursday and one who thinks we should add Friday.

Today, it is 11.15 a.m.

We have two hours until 1.15 p.m.

when we need to stop for our full council meeting.

if we are not completed with our agenda by 1.15 in two hours from now, we will break for full council in recess and we will return 15 minutes after full council has completed.

This provides the clerks, Seattle Channel, and central staff with the predictability that they need to help us move through today's agenda.

Colleagues, with that, are there any questions at this time about the operations we are about to move through?

I'm seeing no questions at this time, so I'm gonna read all of the items into the record so that we don't have to come back to this again in the future, and then we will move.

Is that all right, Jody?

Are we voting on any of these items today or him?

No, ma'am.

We're sponsoring or him?

No.

Okay, then that's just fine.

All right, so as I said earlier, we will have introduction.

I am moving.

Would you like me to read him into the record?

Yeah, if you want to just read everything into the record, and then we're going to turn it over to Director Noble and Calvin Chow.

Items of Business Today, Agenda Items 1 through 17, which include the introduction and budget proposals overview, which includes finance general, city budget office, Office of the Mayor, Office for Civil Rights, Office of Arts and Culture, Department of Education and Early Learning, City Attorney's Office and Law Department, Seattle Municipal Court, Office of Emergency Management, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Office of Labor Standards, Seattle Public Utilities, Office of Hearing Examiner, Seattle Information Technology Department, Seattle Department of Human Resources, and the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

Thank you, Clerk Schwinn.

Director Noble, Mr. Chow.

Good morning, Council Members.

Calvin Chow, Council Central Staff.

And Ben Noble, central staff director.

I'm just going to very briefly give you, lay the land for today and then the next two days, and then give you a hint of what follows after that.

Chair Strauss has done a fair amount of that, and given time, I'm going to do this relatively quickly.

So, I'll just remind you, we are working through this budget calendar, and we are now, what we sort of think of as the third stage, the purple here on the calendar, a review and discussion of council member proposals.

and it will be followed then in the next stage with the CRS balancing package and we'll get to that later in this very brief presentation.

So again, in terms of the operations today, we are going to keep – central staff will come through, read the title of the CBA, perhaps offer one or two sentences of description and then turn it over to relevant sponsor to provide further background and then, as the Chair has described afterwards, there will be an opportunity for members who are interested, who are not currently co-sponsors, to add themselves as co-sponsors.

And the point of the whole exercise here is for you to each hear from your colleagues about the proposals that they have made, and it is from this group of proposals that the Chair will assemble a balancing package.

And again, I'll talk about the timing and the process around that in just a moment.

This is the agenda for the next three days.

Today is a smorgasbord, if you will, of a variety of departments, particularly small departments.

There is some intentionality in their order, so for instance, law is followed by the court, but as we bounce around, The city has a very diversified portfolio of activities, so there is a certain amount of incongruity there.

Wednesday, a little more focused.

I would note that the list here omits the Seattle Parks and Recreation, which will be presented on Wednesday.

That's just a typographical oversight.

Thursday, focused on human services and public safety and also economic development.

So that's the rough calendar here.

And then the next phase of this, step four, will be the chair's balancing package, which will be presented on Wednesday.

The contents will be published in advance of that.

There's a public comment on Thursday.

And then in response to the chair's balancing package, if you have amendments that would need to be self-balanced, those conceptually, and as well developed as they are, are due by noon on Friday.

Typical of me, I would say that is the last time to put something into the system, not the first so we're available to chat through things and once you see the balancing package really there's obviously a quick turnaround here but as soon as you have a sense of that and have potential changes we'll be more than happy to engage on that.

So that's where we are and where we're headed and with that we're ready to proceed with the discussion of today's items.

And for our friends at Central Staff, I'm gonna ask you to come up to the table when the item before you is being addressed because we're not, if there's any dead air, I'm gonna ask Director Noble to keep us moving because we have, I believe, nearly 170 proposals.

So if I just do the math on that, I'm not going to because you're ready to go.

Welcome.

Yeah, just for pacing yourselves as you will, we have approximately 35 proposals to describe today, just, again, in various departments.

And the first of these is the department, if you will, of Finance General.

And I am going to take a moment to introduce this because Finance General is not really a department, so why we have it listed here.

Finance General is a essentially an account within the general fund that in some sense we use as a financial parking lot where we have reserves established for specific purposes and typically these are things that have not been fully fleshed out but where the intent is clear or where there isn't really a department per se that is going to take the lead but rather the city is shifting funds to some outside entity so again this is It's not unusual to have items held here with some details to be worked out or some transactional arrangement to be established with a third party.

So that's sort of the purpose of Finance General, if you will, and you'll see in the proposals that they're consistent with that notion.

And with that, I'm going to turn it over for the first one.

Amanda Allen, Central Staff.

Thank you, Council Members.

I am introducing the first item, which is Finance General 2. It's sponsored by Council Member Strauss with co-sponsorship from Council Members Solomon and Hollingsworth.

This item would create a reserve of $200,000 in Finance General to support the preservation and potential return of the Benson Trolleys, which were our Seattle waterfront streetcar line.

They are currently stranded in Anacortes under the care of Friends of the Benson Trolleys, a nonprofit.

Thank you.

As prime sponsor of this amendment, I will recognize myself and be brief that these waterfront streetcars, the George Benson waterfront streetcar line, operated in Seattle from 1982 to 2005. I have fond memories of writing it to Chinatown International District as a child.

trolleys have been stored for historical preservation and are losing their place.

So if we would like to either somehow get them back on the tracks or into Mohai, we need to assist in the next steps of them finding their new home or they may be sold I believe to Tennessee.

And so this just simply keeps the options open for us to be able to retain these in the city of Seattle, whether it's on the rails or in a museum.

Colleagues with that, are there any questions on this?

Then I will ask if anyone would like to co-sponsor that you don't have- we're doing the first one, right?

And it's also a little bit more awkward because I'm facilitating myself.

So if you'd like to co-sponsor this, just raise your hand now.

Seeing no additional co-sponsors, we'll move on to the next item.

Central staff.

Lish Whitson.

Item Finance General 3 would add $2 million to Finance General for preservation of sites related to the history of the Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party, sponsored by Councilmember Strauss with Councilmember Saka and Hollingsworth.

Thank you.

This is about the preservation of the Dixon family home, a historic property which will be secured and restored both as a heritage site and community gallery.

By stabilizing this home and integrating it within the heritage trail, the city ensures the important story remains deeply rooted in the community and these investments will create a visible, walkable and educational experience affirming Seattle's significant role in the national movement for justice.

And we did have Mr. Dixon here today.

This was a community request from Jim Buchanan that I'm happy to move forward.

Colleagues, are there any questions regarding this proposal?

I'm seeing no questions.

Is there anyone that would like to co-sponsor FG 00381?

I'll wait one second.

Then I will read the names back.

I see Council Member Rink and Council Member Solomon adding their names to FG003A1 and Council Member Saka.

Council Member Saka was already a co-sponsor.

Oh, fantastic.

Did you want to questions and answers?

Sir, that we, I'm going to allow it right now, but as we move through, we will do questions and answers, co-sponsors, and just keep moving.

Yeah.

Councilmember Taka.

Thank you, Chair.

I actually have a, I just wanna just put on the record, so this one I'm proud co-sponsor of already, but my office just received, we have 190 or so amendments, and my office just received a copy of the ones that were not co-sponsored on yesterday, so I know we're going through this process today where we're adding our names, we just haven't had the time to vet or validate any of these, and so we'll try to entertain your request, Chair, to add verbal co-sponsorships today, but on the fly really, but we'll obviously reserve the right to do that later.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So I had for FG003A1, Council Member Rink and Council Member Solomon, is that correct?

That's correct.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to FG004A1.

Good morning, central staff.

This FG004A would increase finance general by $1.25 million to support projects and programs that help preserve the physical character, cultural heritage, and social fabric of the community formed last century in Seattle's Central District by the direct descendants of slaves, sponsored by Councilmember Hollingsworth.

Thank you.

Council Member Hollingsworth has sponsored the amendment.

You are recognized.

Thank you Mr. Chair and I'll be brief and thank you for central staff for this overview.

Central District isn't just a neighborhood, it's the heart of black life in Seattle, comprised of families and community that rose from redlining and created spaces of belonging.

this set of funding would continue to preserve that.

One of Washington Black Heritage Society, Langston, faith-based institution, cultural centers, and the people that you saw here today to make sure that they have a dedicated funding source to continue some of the repair work that is done in their community from the wealth that was extracted.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Hollingsworth.

Colleagues, questions on this item?

Councilmember Kettle.

No questions.

Ah.

Well, hang on.

Any questions?

And I am moving us forward quickly through the operational aspects so that we have time for discussion.

So please do not feel rushed in the sections for discussion.

Seeing no further questions, are there any council members that would like to add their name to FG004A1?

I'm seeing council member Kettle, Rivera, Rink, and Saka.

Council members Kettle, Rink, Rivera, and Saka.

Yes, confirmed.

Thank you.

We will now move on to FG 100A1.

Good morning, committee.

Tom Mikesell with your central staff.

FG 100A1.

would increase proposed appropriations to finance general by $4.7 million general fund to increase the transfer to the revenue stabilization fund to a level equal to 0.5% of 2026 proposed general fund tax revenues.

Thank you.

As sponsor of this amendment, I recognize myself to an...

This was presented during council central staff analysis as part of There is a mistake, this fixes it.

We will fully fund the rainy day fund.

Our other options are to change the laws that set out how we fill this fund.

My personal opinion that we should just fund it.

Any questions or questions on FG 100A1?

Seeing no questions, if you would like to co-sponsor FG 100A1, now is the time.

I'm seeing Council Member Hollingsworth, Saka, Rink.

Council Members, Hollingsworth, Saka and Rink.

Yes, signed to FG 100A1.

Thank you, we will now move on to FG 101A1.

FG 101A1 would increase appropriations to finance general by a to be determined amount of general fund to create a federal response reserve.

Thank you.

As sponsor of this amendment, I will recognize myself.

This is, in no other way to say it, we did not expect what was going to occur since we passed the budget last year in our need and requirement to respond to federal government withdrawal of funding and withdrawal of support.

While I do not know how much exactly we will be able to put into a federal response reserve account or a federal reserve account, I do know that we need to prepare for the unknown at this time.

And so this is what that fund would be so that we are able to respond to the withdrawal of federal funding in a timely manner, even though we may not know what we will face a few months down the road.

Colleagues, are there any questions on this?

I'm seeing no questions.

Colleagues, if you would like to co-sponsor FG 101A1, please raise your hand.

And I'm seeing no co-sponsors at this time, so we would like to move on to FG 901A1.

FG 901A1.

recognizes the impacts to the general fund and other non-transportation funds from the forecast offices and city budget office October 2025 forecast update.

As the budget committee is the sponsor of this amendment, it does as Mr. Mikesell has said.

Are there any questions on this?

I do not believe co-sponsors are needed or required, so we will move on to the next department, city budget office.

We have CBO 100 SA1.

CBO 100 SA1 is a statement of legislative intent that would request that central staff and CBO, the City Budget Office, collaborate to create shared and easily understood definitions of the variables and factors that contribute to the structural budget deficit in the general fund to provide a clear roadmap to fiscal sustainability.

Thank you, Mr. Mikesell.

As sponsor of this amendment, I will brief description and ask for questions.

I can tell you that the structural budget deficit has gotten worse, it has gotten better, it has gotten worse, it has fluctuated over the course of time since I received Director Noble's first letter of warning in 2017. This has been a problem that has been ongoing.

We have done good work to solve it.

External forces have made it worse and we continue our pathway there.

As we may or may not be aware, Director Noble may retire despite our attempts to retain his employment here and if that is to happen, we need to make sure that we have a full understanding of what the variables and metrics are that contribute or define a structural budget deficit.

I know that it has been discussed many times over the course of many years and this request is to have that clearly defined for all council members today and in the future.

This is a request for Tom Mikesell to work with CBO jointly to define the structural budget deficit variables and metrics.

Colleagues, are there any questions at this time?

Seeing no questions, if you would like to co-sponsor CBO 100-SA1, please raise your hand.

Seeing no additional co-sponsors, we will move on to the next item, Office of the Mayor.

As we move on, I just wanted to add, if it's useful for any of your discussions, we are able to pull up the full text of any of these proposals.

I have them well-tabbed and easily available.

I'm not promoting that, but just wanted you to know that we're happy to facilitate, if that's at all helpful.

With that.

All right.

Ketel Freeman, Council Central Staff, moving on here to MO001SA1, sponsored by Councilmembers Saka, Solomon, and Rink.

This would request that the Mayor's Office and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment report to the Council on the City's policy, regulatory, and organizational approach to achieving urban tree canopy coverage goals with an eye towards the potential for reorganizations or consolidations.

Thank you.

Councilmember Saka, the sponsor of the amendment, you are recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

So this one I think is fairly straightforward but is much needed.

It is simply a sly request for more information on how we can better as a city consolidate and harmonize efforts across that are currently live across multiple city departments and how we can drive further efficiencies to create the outcome I think we all want to see.

And so Trees are important, but how we manage those, how we look after those and plan for more tree growth and development doesn't need to be distributed necessarily across eight or nine different departments as is the case today.

And I note there are a number of champions on this council that could have co-sponsored this, and my apologies to Councilmember Rivera, who's been a consummate champion of tree initiatives.

I intended to have her formally co-sponsor it, but I hope that she joins this process now and sponsors it through this process, because she's also a strong champion of tree initiatives.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Colleagues, questions?

Seeing no questions, if you'd like to co-sponsor MO101SA1, please raise your hand now.

I have council member Rivera, Kettle, Hollingsworth co-sponsoring MO1SA1.

Council members Rivera, Kettle, and Hollingsworth.

Thank you.

Moving on to the next item, MO2SA1.

Tommaso Johnson, Council Central Staff.

MO2S is a statement of legislative intent requesting that the mayor's office convene departments to study and report on noise enforcement to better address problem noise violations citywide.

Sponsored by Councilmember Saka, co-sponsored by Solomon and Rivera.

Thank you.

Councilmember Saka has sponsored the amendment.

You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

So colleagues, this proposed slide seeks to address two primary use cases or scenarios with respect to problem noise across our city.

One, excessive vehicle noise.

It's afflicting communities across the city, in my own district, Elk High and Harbor Avenue, but other parts of the district, I know Magnuson Park and other parts of the city as well.

And then also loud and excessive noise and oftentimes amplified noise that exists on public sidewalks, principally outside of stadiums.

sports events and things like that.

And we have existing codes on the books today.

We have existing noise ordinance that govern the, you know, how much noise volume is permissible in our city limits.

I think we just need a tighter, more coordinated interdepartmental approach.

and to focus on intervention and enforcement and education in some cases.

And that's exactly what this proposed slide calls for.

Communities have long been asking for more clarity around this and I intend to deliver.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Saka.

Colleagues, questions?

Seeing no questions at this time, if you would like to co-sponsor MO2SA1, please raise your hand now.

I see Council Member Kettle, Council Member Rink.

Council Members Kettle and Rink.

On MO2SA1.

Thank you, we'll move on to the next item, MO3SA1.

Mic, here we are.

Councilmembers, there we go.

MO3S is sponsored by Councilmember Sacco with co-sponsorship from Councilmembers Hollingsworth and Strauss.

This item is a SLI requesting that the mayor's office support us in working with five different departments.

to weave together their expertise in developing a comprehensive policy review on the city's approach to licensing and enforcement of unpermitted vending of food and merchandise on city streets.

Thank you.

Councilmember Saka is sponsoring the amendment.

You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

So over the past year, my office has heard consistently from residents and local businesses about the growing challenges and issues associated with unpermitted street vending, especially in areas in my district along Elkai, near the stadiums of Soto, but this underlying challenge afflicts many areas of the city.

This activity has become especially visible in and around major venues like Lumen Field, T-Mobile Park and Climate Pledge Arena.

Indeed, I met yesterday with the top legal and policy representatives from each of those organizations and colleagues you'll recall about a week ago, I think on October 20th, we all received a letter from the stadium authorities and representatives from every last one of our respective council districts asking for this, exactly what we're putting forth here today, which is a request for a report on how we can have a better, more coordinated approach and document best practices, et cetera.

That is exactly what we're calling for, and thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Saka.

Colleagues, questions?

I'll just make a statement as I'm a co-sponsor of this.

I'm happy to co-sponsor this.

I will say that for me, the goal is having people get their licenses and to then be permitted vendors.

We do not want health issues stemming from unpermitted vendors.

We'd rather have them permitted.

There's also a spectrum of if somebody is selling hot dogs out in front of a hot dog store, that's not that's not desired.

If somebody, which is the case on 105th and Aurora is having a taco stand that has the most positive behavior that I've seen in that empty parking lot in a very long time, that's something that we want to have them come into compliance in the right way to make sure that everyone is safe.

So for me, that's the genesis of this.

I appreciate your prime sponsorship, Mr. Saka.

Colleagues, any other questions?

Seeing as we know further questions, if you would like to sign on to MO3SA1, please raise your hand.

I have Council Member Kettle, Council Member Solomon, Council Member Rivera.

Council Members Kettle, Solomon and Rivera.

On MO3SA1.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to Office of Civil Rights.

Again, if you are a central staff analyst on the next item, I would like you at the table.

Please read the next item into...

We will pause, but again, please be ready at the table.

You ready, Tommaso?

Go, go, go.

The sole item for the Office for Civil Rights is OCR 10. This is a proviso that would provide $50,000 in the Office for Civil Rights to conduct an expanded reparations study.

This amount of funding was included in the Mayor's 2026 proposed budget and the proviso would expand the scope of the work planned.

Thank you.

Councilmember Hollingsworth has sponsored the amendment.

You are recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, central staff.

Currently, as was stated, the mayor's office has set a funding aside to the Office of Civil Rights to create a report and analysis of redlining and racial discriminatory housing policies.

What I am proposing here is to expand the scope of the study to add information on all impacts of historical discrimination that have a nexus to housing.

That is what the most important piece is, the nexus to housing, touching in culture, community, and commerce.

King County did a report a couple years ago analyzing the amount of wealth that was extracted from black households, $5.4 to $15.8 billion.

The idea is that a physical building, a roof, and housing support is definitely a big component of reparations.

However, knowing how to keep a family in their home includes an understanding of the ability to thrive in that community.

Thank you.

Well said.

Colleagues, questions on OCR 10A1?

I'm seeing no questions.

If you'd like to co-sponsor OCR 10A1.

Looks like we've got a full gamut here.

We have Council Members Rivera, Solomon Rink, Kettle, Strauss on OCR 10A1.

And Council President Nelson.

Council Member Juarez, I'm just gonna double check.

I think you're the only one.

Council Member Juarez is a co-sponsor already.

there, that's why she doesn't have her hand up.

Thank you, Mr. Chow.

With that, the entire body sponsors this amendment.

Yes.

Confirmed.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to Office of Arts and Culture in Chestnut.

Sorry, I thought you were presenting on the last one.

Over to you, my friend.

Hello, Jasmine Marwaha on your Council Central staff.

First up for the Office of Arts and Culture, we have Arts 1A1.

This CBA would increase arts by $100,000 general fund on a one-time basis for an organization that operates creative and cultural spaces serving primarily low-income artists such as Forever Safe Spaces.

This CBA is sponsored by Councilmember Hollingsworth and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Rink and SACA.

Thank you.

Council Member Hollingsworth is sponsored by the amendment.

You are recognized.

Awesome.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

So Capitol Hill has shown resilience and vitality through arts.

I believe it's one of the economic engines through our city.

Our arts department has done a phenomenal job engaging with artists.

This will specifically fund for low-income artists that operate spaces for artists, particularly low-income artists on the Hill to succeed and also the folks that do a ton of murals and keep a lot of the spaces active on Capitol Hill.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Colleagues, questions on arts 1A1?

Seeing no questions, if you'd like to co-sponsor arts 1A1, please raise your hand.

I have council members Rivera and Kettle co-sponsoring arts 1A1.

Council members Rivera and Kettle.

Thank you.

Moving on to arts 2A1.

Yes, Arts 2A1, the CBA would increase arts by $100,000 general fund on a one-time basis for an organization that empowers and supports black artists, such as the Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas, to support a black choreography showcase.

This CBA is sponsored by Councilmember Rink and co-sponsored by Councilmember Solomon and Hollingsworth.

Thank you.

Councilmember Rink has sponsored the amendment.

You are recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Colleagues, since its inception in 2014, Showing Out has been the premiere showcase of the Seattle Black Dance Choreography and has grown to encompass not just performance, but building artist community and elevating the art form through intentional mentorship and professional development for rising Black choreographers.

CD Forum is a black trans-led homegrown institution that has served the black Central District diaspora for over 25 years.

Showing out's alumni of curators and choreographers includes local legends such as Donald Byrd, Jade Solomon Curtis, Danny Terrell, Randy Ford, and Naya Amina Minor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Rink.

Colleagues, questions?

Seeing as we have no questions on this item, colleagues, please raise your hand if you would like to co-sponsor this item.

We have council members Saka and Kettle co-sponsoring Arts 2A1.

Council members Saka and Kettle.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to Arts 3A1.

Good morning, H.B.

Harper, Council Central staff.

Arts 3A1 is a council budget action which would increase proposed appropriations to the Office of Arts and Culture by $500,000 general fund on a one-time basis for non-profit theaters dedicated to film discovery and arts education, such as the Seattle International Film Festival venues for accessibility and facility improvements.

It's sponsored by Councilmember Kettle and co-sponsored by Council President Nelson and Councilmember Rank.

Thank you.

Councilmember Kettle, sponsor of the amendment, you are recognized.

Thank you, Chair Strauss.

Colleagues, we all know that the formerly known as Zinerama, SIF Downtown and Uptown are a crown jewel for our city.

I just wanted to relay, you know, two weekends ago, I was at SIF Downtown seeing the documentary speak about a group of young people from around the country, you know, speech and debate young people finding their voices.

It was an incredible documentary and it was being shown in an incredible location and venue that was remarked by these people that were coming across the city to see this documentary in that location.

and I should note too it was supported by the Schultz Foundation.

I think that we need to look to support this as a public-private, as we have these different pieces coming in, but we need to ensure that we take care of this location so that in the future we don't have a situation where we may have to put even greater amounts of money in.

This is about taking care of things one piece at a time.

So that goes to accessibility and safety improvements.

We've been doing a lot in Belltown, but we need to, you know, to improve those accessibility and safety pieces.

There's the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, for youth programming.

That's really, it's part of this, it's really important.

And then separately, to ensure that we do have the state-of-the-art location, to have the technology and facility improvements, the IT infrastructure updates needed to ensure that it's world-class.

And so with that, colleagues, I ask for your support for this amendment.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilmember Kettle.

Colleagues, questions?

Seeing no questions, Councilmember Kettle, I will recuse myself from this co-sponsorship as a former Cinerama employee and actor in the Nifty Founders first movies.

Are there any other colleagues that would like to co-sponsor this item?

I see Councilmember Hollingsworth adding her name to Arts 4A1.

Councilmember Hollingsworth.

Thank you.

Moving on to Arts 5A1.

I think we're still in Arts 4A1.

That was Arts 3A1.

Sorry about that.

So I see Arts 3A1 co-sponsored by Council Member Hollingsworth as well.

We are now moving on to Arts 4A1.

Sorry, I didn't mean to skip.

Thank you.

This council budget action would increase proposed appropriations to the Office of Arts and Culture by 1.75 million general fund on a one-time basis to stand-up organizations supporting black community festival programming like the Pacific Northwest Jazz Association.

It's sponsored by Councilmember Strauss and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Hollingsworth and SACA.

Thank you, as sponsor of the amendment, I'm recognized as this is a Jim Buchanan request to support black community festivals such as Juneteenth, the Moja Fest, and as HB said, Pacific Northwest Jazz Association.

Colleagues, are there questions on this item?

Seeing no questions on this item, if you'd like to co-sponsor Arts 481, please raise your hand.

I have council member Solomon, Rink, Nelson, Rivera.

Caller member Solomon, Rink, Nelson and Rivera.

On arts 4A1.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to arts 5A1.

This council budget action would increase the Office of Arts and Culture budget by $200,000 general fund on a one-time basis for venue improvements for an organization dedicated to cultural storytelling such as Tezvir, a non-profit focused on South Asian film that recently purchased the former Arc Lodge Cinema Building in Columbia City.

It's sponsored by Council President Nelson and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Rink and Solomon.

Thank you.

Council President Nelson is sponsor of the amendment.

You are recognized.

Thank you.

This capital funding would be essential to TASVR, the world's only South Asian Oscar qualifying film festival.

Founded 23 years ago by two immigrant women in the wake of 9-11 to combat hate through storytelling and build bridges throughout the art world, TASVR has become a cornerstone of Seattle's cultural landscape.

As many people know, last year, the historic Arc Lodge Cinema in Columbia City announced it was closing.

And Tasvir stepped in to save and restore this beloved neighborhood art house cinema, reviving a key cultural institution.

And this budget item, this budget proposal, would allow the venue to update into a modern, accessible film destination.

The original ask was, I believe, $600,000 to revamp all of the screens, and I'm going with something that is a little bit less so that they can revamp one of the screens.

Having a vibrant, active arts venue in Columbia City will draw visitors, support local businesses, and strengthen the neighborhood's identity as a cultural hub.

With a permanent theater home, Tasvir will offer year-round programming performances, workshops, and community events supporting the local film community and greater arts scene.

Thank you, Council President.

Colleagues, questions?

Oh, I forgot to say, I thank Council Members Rink and Solomon for joining me in supporting this important organization, and I hope other people can join me in this effort.

Thank you.

Colleagues, questions?

Seeing no additional questions, please raise your hand if you would like to sign on to Arts 5A1.

I have Council Member Hollingsworth, Council Member Rivera.

Council Members Hollingsworth and Rivera.

On Arts 5A1.

We'll now move, and Council Member Kettle.

We have, on Arts 5A1 we have.

Adding Council Member Kettle.

Okay, can you read everyone again?

Yes.

we have adding council members Hollingworth, Kettle, and Rivera.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to Arts 681.

Arts 681 is a council budget action that would increase proposed appropriations to the Office of Arts and Culture by 90,000 general fund on a one-time basis for murals in the Ballard Brewery District as part of the Hope Corps program.

It's sponsored by council member Strauss and co-sponsored by council members Solomon and Hollingsworth.

Thank you, HB.

As sponsor of the amendment, I will speak to this.

Council members, we included this in last year's budget and I know in Capitol Hill, we also included murals as well as Belltown has mural money as well.

Last year we funded it only for one year to see if there was interest in the brewery district.

There was so much interest that private organizations in the neighborhood put money in to expand the mural money So we now have more murals than we even funded in last year's budget.

As well as last year, we funded this program at $100,000 and brought it down to $90,000 as part of the belt tightening exercise for efficiencies.

I am bringing forward this amendment at $90,000 rather than at 100 to continue the work that was inspired last year because in the Ballard Brewery District there's now a desire to have a one weekend festival of adding a lot of murals at one time as was done in Belltown that has already improved the urban environment.

That is the purpose of this amendment.

Colleagues, are there questions?

I'm seeing no questions.

If you'd like to co-sponsor Arts 6A1, please raise your hand.

I have Council Member Kettle and Council Member Nelson co-sponsoring Arts 6A1.

Council Members Kettle and Nelson.

Thank you, moving on to Arts 7A1.

Arts 7A1 is a council budget action that would impose a proviso on appropriation of $200,000 of arts and culture fund in the Office of Arts and Culture for support for a project that will replace previously stolen or vandalized art in public spaces in Seattle, such as the Sadako Renewal Project.

It's sponsored by Councilmember Rivera and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Hollingsworth and Nelson.

Thank you.

Councilmember Rivera has sponsored the amendment.

You are recognized.

Thank you.

I just want to be clear when it says proviso, it's actually not taking money from a program at arts.

It is additional to what arts already does.

So I wanted to make sure that that was very clear.

The sculpture, Sadako and the Thousand Cranes, was donated to the city in 1990 and became part of the public art collection at the city.

It was located at Peace Park.

You've heard me talk about this for a while now.

Colleagues, the statue memorialize Sadako Sasaki, a 12-year-old girl who died of cancer likely caused by the bombing of Hiroshima.

The statue was internationally recognized and visitors would hang chains of origami canes from her outstretched bronze hand.

It was stolen in July of 2024. The Japanese and Quaker community immediately started determining how to replace and collected donations.

The money has come from near and far, including a schoolgirl in Japan who's raised over $1,000 to donate to the project.

Stories of the theft appeared in the New York Times, the Smithsonian, and news outlets in Japan.

The current Japanese and Quaker-led community group called the Sadako Renewal Project has completed an artist selection process and chosen artist Saya Moriyasu from the artist pool of more than 200 artists.

This renewal replacement project is expected to cost $400 to complete and install.

This funding would be a match, so they would put in $200 and then we would be the last $200 to support the installation and completion of this project.

I want to thank Council Members Hollingsworth and Nelson for supporting this and I hope you all can support Japanese community in replacing this artwork.

And I will readily acknowledge that the city doesn't have the funding to replace every single artwork that we own and gets damaged or stolen.

This one is particularly of importance to Japanese community in town, which is why I am uplifting this one and also being mindful of the funding restrictions we have in the city, making sure that it is set up as a match to be able to replace this really important statue to Japanese community in the city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Rivera.

Colleagues, questions?

Seeing no questions, I'll make the statement.

Council Member Rivera, I deeply appreciate you bringing this amendment forward.

This is one of my favorite statues in our entire city.

And thank you to the person in the, you said a student in Japan is raising money?

Raised $1,000 for this statue.

Let's double it.

Let's keep going.

Colleagues, if you are interested in co-sponsoring Arts 781, please raise your hand.

I have council members Solomon, Sokka, and Strauss co-sponsoring Arts 7A1.

Council members Solomon, Sokka, and Strauss.

Thank you.

Moving on to Arts 8A1.

Hello, back to me.

Arts A1, the CBA would increase arts by $190,000 general fund on a one-time basis for an organization that functions as a community library and gathering space focused on social justice, ethnic studies, and liberation movements, such as Estelita's library, to purchase, archive, and preserve the historically significant Black Scholar Journal from the University of Washington.

This CBA is sponsored by Councilmember Rink and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Solomon and Hollingsworth Councilmember Rink you're recognized to address your amendment

Thank you, Vice Chair Rivera.

Colleagues, since the early days, as a part of the intellectual vanguard of the black liberation struggle and for nearly six decades since, the Black Scholar Journal has published a veritable who's who of black thought and letters.

Estelita's library has stewarded one of the world's most complete archives of the Black Panther Party's newspaper and is uniquely positioned to steward this community resource to ensure the legacy of the Black Scholar Journal can remain vital and accessible.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Ring.

Colleagues, any questions?

Seeing no questions, please raise your hand if you'd like to co-sponsor this amendment.

I see Councilmember Sacca.

Councilmember Sacca.

And Councilmember Kettle.

Councilmember Sacca, Councilmember Kettle, Councilmember Nelson.

All right, Arts 009A1.

Yes, Arts 9A1, the CBA would make admission tax transfers to Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle Center one time for 2026 instead of ongoing.

In the 2026 proposed budget, the strand of funding totals approximately $2 million.

Thank you, Council Member Rink.

You're recognized to address your amendment.

Thank you.

Colleagues, last year this body successfully ensured that the admissions tax remained wholly with the Office of Arts and Culture and working with the executive devised a compromise that would allow for a portion of that revenue to fund select programs in the Parks Department and at Seattle Center in the 2025-2026 biennial budget.

The intention was for this to be a one-time redirection but my understanding is that somewhere in the process a button wasn't pushed so this was defaulted to ongoing and as a result we find ourselves in year two of this biennial budget with that temporary redirection inadvertently made permanent due to a technical error.

This CBA will not change any dollars going to parks or the center in the 2026 budget.

No money is being moved.

This is essentially just our body making sure that that button, so to speak, gets pushed so we don't inadvertently, permanently divert ad tax without a public legislative process directly engaging with the ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Rink, for sponsoring this amendment.

Colleagues' questions?

Please, Council Member Rivera.

Thank you, Chair.

Central staff, can you talk a little bit more about this?

I was here last year and remember this ad, but I don't remember it being as a one-time.

I suspect that Parks and the Center are doing some work, but, Ben, can you refresh our memories?

It was intended for the biennium.

That's what I thought.

But we're at the end of the biennium.

What had been done on was to redirect a portion of the arts resources to internal city arts activities.

But it was supposed to go into 2026. Right, and this would continue this into 2026. It would just say that for 2027, it would remove it as a baseline change, and if there was an interest in moving it forward, it would be debated again.

And just the way that has been described is for a full public discussion.

And do we know if the executive had intended for it to go into the next biennium?

Because most, I mean, the budgets are done by biennium, so...

I have to look at the financial plan to see what, and I'm not sure if this actually gets back to the slide that was on the very first page about CBO, about understanding what the deficit is.

I have to confirm whether or not it was assumed to continue beyond.

But if it were, again, as described, There isn't the legislative record that that was intended to be a permanent shift.

So it does have the effect that that was money that was being used to protect the general fund, if you will, as an alternative to general fund resources.

So it will be a challenge in 2027 to reverse this, because the arts activities that are currently funded at Center and elsewhere with the ad tax dollars would have to find a new funding source.

Member Rivera, any further questions?

Well, just more information would be great about what is not going to get done if we, you know.

Yeah, we could talk about the, again, I don't, it's not a 26 item, so it's a 27 item, so there's no way to specifically say what won't be done.

It would become an additional pressure on the general fund, but again, the policy could be renewed if the executive proposes and the council would be supportive.

Let me say it a different way, Ben.

What is it going to do now?

Because then that might help us determine what would not possibly get done later.

It's currently funding three programs, each in Seattle Parks and Recreation and in Seattle Center.

So there's funding going to Art in the Parks, to a Downtown Buskers program, and the Parks Teen Performing Arts program for a total of $900,000 in parks.

in Seattle Center is going to support Folklife, Winterfest, and Festall Cultural Programming for a total of about $1.1 million.

And again, none of that funding will be touched for 2026. It'll just be, the default will be that it's one time if this CBA moves forward.

Council Member Rivera?

You're recognized.

Oh, thank you, Chair.

So, and this is my concern, then, these programs, like, the teen performance, the Folklife Winterfest downtown, the art and parks, then for 2027, we would have potentially no funding available to continue these things.

Central staff, Jasmine Marwaha, you are recognized.

It would be a policy choice for the Council as to whether they want the default for this funding to be one time and then a question as to whether it's renewed for 2027 or for the default for the permanent diversion to be baseline and then you can make a different choice next year.

So it's really just about how you want to switch that default.

Councilmember Rivera, anything further on this item?

For now, chair, thank you.

But I will follow up with central staff because I have concerns about these items moving forward because these are items the city has funded for many years ongoing.

And so then in 2027, we'd have an issue if this moved forward.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Rivera.

Colleagues, other questions?

Fun, awkward fact about Robert's Rules.

Robert's Rules states that you are always addressing the chair and not each other.

As this cheat sheet on the dais says, this is not a discussion, it is a facilitation as the chair is not the boss, yet just a servant.

Council Member Juarez.

Nothing further to share.

As a co-sponsor of this, I will share, Council Member Rivera, your questions and discussion with central staff is exactly the reason why we need to have a longer process and a more full discussion about how these funds are used.

In my humble opinion, I believe that Folklife, Winterfest, Festall are appropriate uses of the admission tax and we need to ensure that our legislation and processes square up with what we're doing in the budget that yet has to occur.

So that's what this is about from my perspective.