C1
>> GOING TO YOU THE WHOLE RUN OF
SHOW. BUT I AM GOING TO HIT THE
HIGHLIGHTS OF WHY WE ARE HERE.
BUT I WANT TO START THIS THE WAY
THAT I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO START
A MEETING, BUT MY UNCLE BILLY
FRANK JR. WANT TO START THIS IN
A GOOD WAY. LET'S JUST TAKE A
DEEP BREATH. WE'RE ALL HERE
BECAUSE WE CARE. I WANT TO
DON'T "TRADISH." FOR THOSE OF
YOU WHO WATCHED REZ DOGS, YOU
KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. WE
ARE HERE BECAUSE THERE GUNSHOTS
AND VIOLENCE ON AURORA. WE CAN
PRETTY MUCH CLOCK IT FROM 85th
TO 130th ON THE EAST AND THE
WEST SIDE. AND WE KNOW THE ROOTS
OF THIS VIOLENCE. WE'VE SEEN IT
BUT IT'S GOTTEN WORSE. WE KNOW
THAT IT'S THE PIMPS. WE KNOW
THAT IT'S PROSTITUTION. WE KNOW
THAT IT'S SEX TRAFFICKING, AND
WE KNOW THAT IT'S DRUG
ACTIVITY. WE'VE ALL SEEN THE
CLIPS OF THE SHOOTING. I SAT FOR
TWO TERMS AND TRUST ME. WE SHUT
DOWN MOTELS AND I HAVE BEEN
THROUGH TWO GOVERNORS AND TWO
MAYORS AND FOUR CHIEFS OF
POLICE. I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
AN IDEA HOW TO WORKS PUBLIC
SAFETY AND SAFETY. THE FOUR
THINGS I JUST LISTED ARE THE
ROOT CAUSE NOT JUST IN THE CITY
BUT RIGHT NOW ON AURORA. I WANT
TO THANK THE AURORA FOLKS HERE
AND CAME OUT ON SATURDAY NIGHT
TO WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT
WE'RE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE WANT
TO SEE A STREET CLOSURE. WE WANT
TO SEE BARRIERS, AND I WANT TO
GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION WE ARE
GOING TO BE PASSING. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR
THAT AND HE WILL SPEAK TO THAT.
WHETHER HE STAYS TO HIS THREE
MINUTES IS ANOTHER ISSUE. WE
KNOW CURRENT THE SDOT DIRECTOR
HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CLOSE THE
STREET. WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH
THE EMERGENCY LEGISLATION AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
COMMITTEE IS EXPAND THE
CONDITIONS AND THE SCENARIOS IN
WHICH YOU CAN CLOSE A STREET,
AND THAT WOULD BE UPON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF CHIEF BARNES
THAT THERE'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITY,
I.E. BULLETS, AND THE STREET
NEEDS TO BE CLOSED. I WANT TO
APOLOGIZE THAT WE FAILED YOU,
THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD TO GET
OUT ON THEIR OWN AND PUT UP
BARRIERS AND PUT THEIR OWN LIVES
AND FAMILY AT RISKS. I ASSURE
YOU MYSELF AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HAVE BEEN UP THERE. YES, I WAS
THERE. I DIDN'T COME UP WITH A
BULLHORN AND TELL EVERYBODY I'M
HERE BUT I WAS THERE AND I TOOK
PICTURES. I LIVED IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS
SO I KNOW AURORA. LET'S GET
BACK TO THE STREET CLOSURES.
THERE ARE SO 19 SCENARIOS AND
YOU HEARD THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SAY THIS IN WHICH SDOT HAS THE
AUTHORITY RIGHT NOW TO CLOSE THE
STREAK. WE DO IT AT LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD. WE DO IT
AT GARDENS. WE DO IT AT PIKE
PLACE MARKET. WE DO IT WHEN WE
WANT TO CLOSE DOWN STREET
RACING, SAFE STREETS, HEALTHY
STREET, COVID AND WE DO IT FOR
BARBECUES AND FOR
TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASURES AND WE
DO IT FOR SPEED LIMITS AND
PEDESTRIANS AND BIKES AND
FAMILIES. WE HAVE NEVER CLOSED
DOWN STREETS AND I HAVE SAID IT
BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT BEFORE
AND YOU KNOW HOW I SPEAK. IF WE
CAN CLOSE DOWN STREETS FOR THOSE
SITUATIONS WE CAN SURE AS HELL
CLOSE DOWN THE STREETS FOR
BULLETS. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY
POINT. I AM GOING TO BE SHORT
AND WRAP THINGS UP REAL QUICK
BECAUSE I WANT THE OTHER
ELECTIVES TO SPEAK AS WELL.
THERE'S BEEN TALK WHO'S
WORKING WITH WHOM. FIRST, I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
UNDER THE HARRIS ADMINISTRATION
AND COUNCILMEMBER LIN UNDER THE
STREET AUTHORITY WITH SDOT AND I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH WHO WORKED WITH ME
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. I WANT TO
PARTICULARLY THANK ATTORNEY
EVANS. WE HAVE BEEN MEETING
SINCE JANUARY ABOUT STOP
TRAFFICKING. MET WITH THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
WHAT DO WE DO GET IN THE BUDGET?
WE HAVE TWO KING COUNTY
PROSECUTORS WHOSE JOBS ARE TO
FILE CASES FOR ALL OF KING
COUNTY, TWO FOR NORTH AND SOUTH.
AS YOU KNOW A LOT OF THE CRIMES
ARE MISDEMEANORS. THEY WILL NOT
BE IN KING COUNTY CITY COURT.
THEY WILL BE IN MUNICIPAL COURT.
WE WILL HAVE A RESPONSE MOVING
THE FILES AND HOPEFULLY MOVING
SOME OF THE MISDEMEANORS INTO
FELONIES. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK
CHIEF BARNES. I SO APPRECIATE
WORKING WITH HIM AND HIS
LEADERSHIP. THIS IS THE CHIEF OF
POLICE CALLING ME AND SAID, HEY,
DEBORA,, WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER
SHOOTING. WE HAD A DEATH. THIS
IS WHAT IS GOING ON. THAT SHARED
LEADERSHIP AND HOW I WANT TO
LEAD. I WANT TO THANK MAYOR
WILSON AND HER STAFF. NO, I HAVE
NOT SAT DOWN AND HAD TEA WITH
THE MAYOR BUT I WORK WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. WHERE'S BRIAN?
HE'S EVERYWHERE, DEPUTY MAYOR
AND THEIR TEAM. I KNOW A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THE MAYOR
WHO HANDLE PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE
ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND IF WE
FAILED YOU, THEN WE ALL FAILED
YOU. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WHO CHAIRS
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHO WAS
EARLY IN ON THE CONVERSATIONS IN
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ON THE SEX
TRAFFICKING. I'M GOING TO LET
COUNCIL PRESIDENT ADDRESS THAT A
LITTLE BIT MORE. TH E SEX
TRAFFICKING ISSUE -- I WANT TO
LEAVE BUT TWO NOTES AND THIS
COMES FROM MY WORK ON MISSING
MURDER OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND
GIRLS, THE LAWS WE PASSED. THE
FTE'S WE GOT IN AND WHAT I HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON FOR WELL OVER A
DECADE. THIS IS HOW I MET PROS
COURT EVANS PROSECUTING A CASE
ON THE LUMI TRIBE. THOSE ARE OUR
SISTERS OUT THERE. THOSE ARE OUR
CHILDREN OUT THERE. THOSE ARE
OUR STUDENTS OUT THERE. THOSE
ARE OUR FORMER NEIGHBORS OUT
THERE. WE WORK SO CLOSELY WITH
AURORA COMMONS. WE HAVE GOTTEN
THEM IN THE BUDGET. THE EIGHT
YEARS I WAS ON COUNCIL 9 WE GOT
THEM IN THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR
AND EXPAND THE RESOURCES.
SOMETIMES, YOU DON'T SEE THE
WORK WE DO BEHIND THE SCENES. I
HOPE I HAVE SHARED THAT WITH YOU
TODAY. I WANT TO END ON THIS
NOTE BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO
SPEAK. I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE
AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. YOU CAN
ALWAYS JUDGE A SOCIETY BY HOW
THEY TREAT THEIR WOMEN AND THEIR
GIRLS. IF YOU CAN'T SAY ABOUT
SEX TRAFFICKING AND WE ARE NOT
TALKING ABOUT ONLYFANS AND
PEOPLE WITH THE CAM GIRL. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTORS CAME WHEN
THEY PRESENTED TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE'S MEETING THAT SIT ON
AND DID AN HOUR AND A HALF
POWERPOINT WITH PICTURES TO SHOW
US WHAT IS GOING ON. AND I CAN
ASSUME IT WILL GET WORSE WITH
FIFA AND I WILL SAY SOMETHING
THAT EVERYONE IS TO GLOB ON TO.
I HAD ENDURE BLOCK THE BUNKER,
DEFUND THE POLICE BUT AT THE END
OF THE DAY, WE TOOK AN OATH TO
THIS CITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. I
HAVE A ASSOCIATE SOCIAL CONTRACT
NOT JUST WITH YOU FOLKS. YES, I
REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF D 5 BUT
MY VOTE WEIGHS JUST AS MUCH AS
THE OTHER ELECTIVES. I ALSO TAKE
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT AS
WELL. THANK YOU AND I'LL LET
YOU HEAR FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON. FIRST OF
ALL, WE ARE HERE UNITED ACROSS
MULTIPLE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND
MAYOR WILSON AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND OUR CITY PARTNERS
AND THE KING COUNTY OFFICE OF
REGIONAL GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
HERE AS WELL. WHAT IS HAPPENING
ALONG AURORA VIOLENCE AGAINST
YOUNG WOMEN AND AGAINST CHILDREN
AND VIOLENCE AGAINST THE
RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. TODAY'S
CONFERENCE IS FOCUSED ON AURORA
AVENUE BUT THE SEX TRAFFICKING
AND THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT
ACCOMPANIES THESE THINGS DON'T
JUST HAPPEN ON AURORA. THEY
HAPPEN IN RAINIER BEACH AND
CAPITOL HILL AND ALL OVER OUR
CITY. SO THIS VIOLENCE CAN'T BE
NORMALIZED. WE CANNOT LET IT
CONTINUE IN THE CITY. CONDITIONS
ARE UNFORTUNATE FOR TRAFFICKERS
TO OPENLY FLAUNT AND ADVERTISE
ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE MONEY
THAT THEY CAN MAKE EXPLOITING
WOMEN ON AURORA. WE HAVE CREATED
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE VULNERABLE
YOUNG GIRLS CAN BE ORDERED
THROUGH APPS, THROUGH
COMMODITIES RIGHT NOW. WE
CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WALKING
TO AND FROM SCHOOL ARE SOLICITED
FOR SEX. THE AVERAGE AGE OF
THOSE ENTERING COMMERCIAL SEX
ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND
15 YEARS OLD. IF THAT DOES NOT
UPSET YOU HEARING THIS RIGHT
NOW, THIS IS A PROBLEM. AND THIS
SHOULD OUTRAGE EVERYONE. WHAT
YOU WILL HEAR TODAY ARE
FIRST-STEP SOLUTIONS AND
COORDINATE THE STRATEGIES AMONG
MULTIPLE AGENTS AND DEPARTMENTS.
IT REQUIRES MORE THAN ONE
DEPARTMENT AND MORE THAN ONE
OFFICIAL AND MORE THAN ONE
ORGANIZATION. IT REQUIRES ALL OF
US WORKING TOGETHER. I DO KNOW
THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT ARE ALL ALIGNED
AROUND FOUR CORE OUT COMES.
NUMBER ONE, WE MUST PROVIDE
PATHWAYS TO HEALING, TREATMENT,
HOUSING, HOPE, AND CULTURALLY
EXPLICIT HELP FOR SURVIVORS.
THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE OUR
SUPPORT. NUMBER TWO WE MUST
PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS ALONG THE
AURORA CORRIDOR AND THROUGHOUT
THE CITY, FAMILIES WHO ENDURED
GUN VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION IN
THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD
UNACCEPTABLE. WE MUST HOLD
ACCOUNTABLE THE PIMPS AND BUYERS
AND EXPLOITERS. ACCOUNTABILITY
MATTERS. FOURTH, WE HAVE TO
EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES
HERE TO THE APPARENTS, TEACHERS,
SCHOOLS, FAITH LEADERS, THE
EBONY ALERTS. THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. THESE ARE PROTECTIVE
FACTORS IN RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS
OF EXPLOITATION BEFORE IT
OCCURS. SO THAT WORK BEGINS WITH
AWARENESS AND STRENGTHENED BY
ADVOCATES AND YOUTH AMBASSADORS
TO HELP EDUCATE THEIR PEERS, AND
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALREADY
LEADING IN THIS SPACE. SO BEFORE
I TURN OFF TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY,
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO
EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND WATCH THE
CONVERGED TASK FORCE OF THE
CURRENT STATE WHICH WE ARE IN
RIGHT NOW. THE WORK WILL NOT BE
SOLVED OVERNIGHT BUT WE WILL
SEND A MESSAGE THAT SEATTLE WILL
NO LONGER ACCEPT THIS AS NORMAL.
I WANT TO THANK THE EXECUTIVE
COUNCILMEMBER WHO LAST NIGHT
TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING THE
OFFICE OF REGIONAL GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION WITH INVESTMENTS AND
COORDINATED EFFORT AND BE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH KING COUNTY
ABOUT THIS EFFORTS AS WELL.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL PASS
THIS OFF TO MS. ERICA EVANS.
THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME
IS ERICA EVANS AND I'M YOUR
ELECTED SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY.
I'M HERE TO DELIVER TWO
MESSAGES AND TO GIVE YOU SOME
UPDATES. MESSAGE NUMBER ONE TO
THE JOHNS OR BUYERS THAT ARE
COMING TO AURORA OR ANY PART OF
OUR CITY TO BUY CHILDREN OR
PEOPLE, YOU WILL BE ARRESTED AND
WE WILL PROSECUTE YOU. I WANT TO
SAY THAT AGAIN. IF YOU'RE
COMING HERE TO BUY CHILDREN OR
PEOPLE, I WILL PROSECUTE YOU.
SECOND, TO THE MOTELS, BARS, OR
BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALLOWING
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO OCCUR OVER
AND OVER AGAIN ON THEIR
PREMISES, WE WILL USE THE CIVIL
DIVISION OF MY OFFICE TO SHUT
YOU DOWN. NOW HERE ARE THE
UPDATES. UPDATE NUMBER ONE. WE
ASKED THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
AND I'M LOOKING AT YOU
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THE
BUDGET CHAIR, THE MONEY PLAN, TO
GIVE US FUNDING FOR A DEDICATED
EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER
PROSECUTOR. AN EXTREME RISK
ORDER OR ERO ALLOWS US TO GET
THE GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF
VIOLENT PEOPLE. WE HAVE BEEN
PARTNERING WITH KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR LEESA MANION TO
REMOVE FIREARMS FROM PEOPLE WHO
POSE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR
OTHERS. AND WE HAD GREAT SUCCESS
WITH THIS PROGRAM. SO THIS NEW
ERPO POSITION FOR NON-DV CASES
IS SOMETHING NEW, NEVER DONE
BEFORE IN MY OFFICE. IT'S A
STRATEGY TO GET GUNS OUT OF THE
HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO POSE AN
EXTREME RISK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WILL USE THIS ON TRAFFICKERS
ON AURORA AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS
THAT THREATEN ANY PART OF OUR
CITY. THIS WILL KEEP OUR
COMMUNITY SAFE FROM GUN
VIOLENCE. IF YOU ARE OUT
THREATENING VIOLENCE IN OUR
COMMUNITY, WE WILL USE OUR ERPO
PROSECUTOR TO TAKE YOUR GUN
AWAY. WE WILL POSE PROPERTY THAT
REPEATEDLY GENERATE CRIME ON
AURORA. WHEN A BUSY OR A
PROPERTY BECOMES A HUB FOR
TRAFFICKING, SHOOTINGS, OR
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THAT HARMS
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS NEARBY.
EVEN RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PUT
ANOTHER BUSINESS ON AURORA ON
NOTICE THAT THEY ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF BEING SHUTDOWN. IN
THE LAST FIVE YEARS, FOUR MOTELS
ON AURORA HAVE BEEN SHUTDOWN
UNDER THE CHRONIC NUISANCE UNIT
AND WE WILL PARTNER TO USE THIS
TOOL TO SHUT DOWN PROBLEMATIC
BUSINESSES DOWN THAT EXPLOIT
FROM THE CRIME IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ASK THE PUBLIC
TO PLEASE CALL 911 WHEN YOU SEE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HAPPENING AT
BUSINESSES. WITH THREE
REPORTABLE POLICE INCIDENTS IN
12 MONTHS, WE ARE ABLE TO SHUT
BUSINESSES DOWN. THIS IS THE
FINAL UPDATE. THIS IS SOMETHING
YOU JUST HEARD FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. THIS IS
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON SINCE JANUARY, TO HAVE A
DEDICATED, DULY DEPUTIZED
PROSECUTOR THAT WILL WORK ON
FELONY CASES ON AURORA IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. AGAIN,
SOMETHING NEW NEVER DONE BEFORE.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE A DIRECT
IMPACT ON GETTING VIOLENT
TRAFFICKERS OFF OUR STREETS.
BOTH KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR
LEESA MANION AND MY OFFICE, WE
NEED MORE PROSECUTORS. WE NEED
MORE OFFICERS. THIS IS GOING TO
HELP. WE ARE HOPEFUL THIS
POSITION WILL COME HOPEFULLY
VERY SOON AND I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THESE EFFORTS.
THANK YOU. AS YOU ALL KNOW,
LASTING IMPACT REQUIRES A
COORDINATED STRATEGY THAT
TARGETS TRAFFICKERS AND REMOVES
GUNS FROM DANGEROUS PEOPLE AND
HOLDS PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. I WANT
TO CLOSE AND PLAINLY ADDRESS
SOMETHING. DO NOT BELIEVE ALL
THE HYPE YOU HERE. I AM PROUD TO
BE THE FIRST CITY ATTORNEY IN 16
YEARS THAT HAS COME TO THIS ROLE
WITH ACTUAL EXPERIENCE AS A
PROSECUTOR. I SPENT MY ENTIRE
CAREER WORKING IN PUBLIC SAFETY
FROM BEING A CITY PROSECUTOR, A
DEFENSE LAWYER, BEING A PRO TEM
JUDGE AND MOST RECENTLY HAVING
THE HONOR TO SERVE AS AN
ASSISTANCE UNITED STATES
ATTORNEY AS A FEDERAL
PROSECUTOR. I HAVE PROSECUTED
DRUG TRAFFICKERS. I HAVE
PROSECUTORS GUN TRAFFICKERS,
PIMPS, PEOPLE WHO HURT OUR
CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WHO STOLE
FROM OUR WORKERS. I HAVE PUT
THEM IN FEDERAL PRISON. I HAVE
PROSECUTED JOHNS ON AURORA, AND
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS
WORK. KEEPING CITY SAVE AND
SERVING THE CITY AS ITS TOP
LAWYER IS MY RESPONSIBILITY, AND
BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF OUR
LIMITED RESOURCES. AND THIS IS A
RESPONSIBILITY THAT I TAKE
GREATLY AND ONE THAT IS GUIDED
BY MY ACTUAL EXPERIENCE LEADING
PROSECUTIONS. IT IS MY JOB TO
SERVE YOU, TO SHOW UP FOR YOU,
TO LISTEN TO YOU. I WILL COME TO
YOUR EVENTS EVEN WHEN YOU'RE
UPSET WITH ME BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT DESERVE. MY COMMITMENT TO
YOU IS TO LEAD WITHOUT DRIVEN
PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES. YOU
DESERVE STRATEGIES THAT PRODUCE
MEASURABLE RESULTS AND MAKE
NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER. MY GRANDMA
MOVED HERE IN THE '70s, AND MY
FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST EVER SINCE. THIS IS MY
HOME, AND KEEPING COMMUNITIES
SAFE SO OUR FAMILIES CAN THRIVE
WILL TAKE COLLABORATIVE
LEADERSHIP, EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE
SEEING HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH
THE PEOPLE HERE. THANK YOU,
EVERYONE. I AM NOT GOING TO
INTRODUCE OUR MAYOR. MAYOR
WILSON, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY
EVANS AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. AS HAS BEEN SIDE
THIS AND THE PUBLICITY SAFETY
ISSUES ACROSS OUR CITY ARE
THINGS WE CAN ONLY TACKLE
TOGETHER. IT REQUIRES ALL OF OUR
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT WORKING
TOGETHER IN CLOSE COORDINATION
AND ALSO WITH OUR COUNTY AND
OTHER PARTNERS. I WANT TO START
BY THANKING THE RESIDENTS,
FAMILIES, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND
THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND COUNCILMEMBERS
JUAREZ AND HOLLINGSWORTH AND
KETTLE AS WELL. AND WE ARE
UNIFIED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO
ADDRESS THE SERIOUS VIOLENCE
THAT AURORA IS SEEING. PEOPLE
ARE TIRED OF HEARING GUNFIRE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THEY
ARE TIRED OF BULLETS STRIKING
THEIR HOMES. THEY ARE TIRED OF
SEEING VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH
EXPLOITATION SPILL ON TO THE
STREETS WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO
RAISE CHILDREN AND LIVE THEIR
LIVES AND THEY ARE TIRED OF
FEELING LIKE THEY HAVE TO SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM BY THEMSELVES. WHEN
NEIGHBORS BUILD THEIR OWN
MAKESHIFT BARRIERS THAT'S A
SIGN THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL
THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING FOR
THEM. THAT'S NOT WHERE WE WANT
TO BE. PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
TRUST THAT THEIR CITY IS TAKING
ACTION TO KEEP THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE. THE SITUATION
ON AURORA IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. IT'S
UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE THERE AND IT'S
UNACCEPTABLE TO ME AS YOUR
MAYOR. WHEN RESIDENTS TOOK
ACTION AND INSTALLED BARRIERS ON
THE STREETS THEMSELVES THEY WERE
SENDING A MESSAGE TO US AT CITY
HALL. THEY WERE TELLING US THAT
THE STATUS QUO WAS NOT WORKING.
THEY WERE DEMANDING IMMEDIATE
ACTION AND WE HAVE HEARD THAT
MESSAGE. WE MOVED QUICKLY TO
IMPLEMENT NEAR TERM MEASURES. WE
IMMEDIATELY INSTALLED PARTIAL
BARRIERS TO SLOW TRAFFIC ON TWO
BLOCKS. AND WE ALSO LOOKED
CAREFULLY HOW TO SAFELY INSTALL
STRONGER BARRIERS WHILE STILL
ALLOW FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE,
GARBAGE COLLECTION, AND SCHOOL
TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. AFTER
ANALYSIS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND OUR POLICE
AND FIRE AND UTILITIES
DEPARTMENT WE ARE TAKING THE
NEXT STEP. I HAVE DIRECTED SDOT
TO SYSTEMICALLY CLOSE STREETS AT
NORTH 122nd, NORTH 100, NORTH 98
AND NORTH 96th STREET WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH SPU TO ENSURE TRASH
PICK UP WILL CONTINUE IN A SAFE
MANNER. SDOT WILL BE EXPLORING
TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASURES IN THE
SURROUNDING BLOCKS. THESE
MEASURES MAKE IT HARDER FOR
DRIVERS TO REPEATEDLY DRIVE
THROUGH THE STREETS AND EVADE
ENFORCEMENT. THESE BARRIERS WILL
REMAIN DURING THE SUMMER. DURING
THAT TIME WE WILL BE LOOKING AT
THE IMPACT AND LISTENING TO
NEIGHBORHOOD FEEDBACK. WE KNOW
THE PROBLEMS DO NOT BEGIN AND
END WITH TRAFFIC BARRIERS AND WE
DEEPLY SHARE THEIR CONCERNS
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, DRUG
ACTIVITY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AS PART OF OUR STRATEGY IN THIS
CORRIDOR, I AM DIRECTING THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
INTENSIFY THE FOCUS FORMENT,
INVESTIGATIVE WORK AND
COORDINATED OPERATIONS ALREADY
UNDERWAY TO REMOVE ILLEGAL GUNS
AND IDENTIFY REPEAT VIOLENCE
OFFENDERS AND HOLD THOSE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE
ACCOUNTABILITY. I'M DIRECTING
SPD TO CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THE TEA ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
OFFICE AND OUR LOCAL PARTNERS.
I'M ALSO DIRECTING OUR HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE
THAT OUR COMMUNITY-BASED
PARTNERS HAVE THE TOOLS, THE
RESOURCES, AND THE SUPPORT THEY
NEED TO SAFELY CONDUCT
TRAUMA-INFORMED OUTREACH, BUILD
TRUST AND HELP SURVIVORS OUT OF
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO STOP THE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND WE ALSO
NEED TO TAKE CARE NOT TO PUSH
WOMEN FURTHER INTO THE MARGIN,
CREATE MORE DANGER FOR THEM OR
BLAME THEM FOR CAUSING THIS
PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
FRUSTRATED AND FRANKLY THEY HAVE
EVERY RIGHT TO BE. MY
ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE ARE
COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO SHOW
UP FOR NORTH AURORA. I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY MEMBERS OF
MY TEAM WHO WERE UP IN NORTH
AURORA OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS
LEADING WALKS, TALKING TO
NEIGHBORS, TALKING TO BUSINESS
OWNERS AND IN THE COMING DAYS I
WILL BE PLANNING A COMMUNITY
MEETING ON AURORA DIRECTLY WITH
NEIGHBORS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT WHAT
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING AND WHAT
MORE THEY NEED FROM OUR CITY.
I'LL ALSO BE ROLLING OUT IN THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT PATROL
CAR IN A RIDE ALONG ALONG THE
CORRIDOR TO GET A FIRSTHAND VIEW
OF THE CONDITIONS THAT OUR
OFFICERS ARE MEETING ON THE
GROUND AND THE CHALLENGES THEY
ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS EVERY
DAY. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND
WORK NEAR AURORA DESERVE LEADERS
WHO SHOW UP AND SEE THE
CHALLENGES FOR THEMSELVES.
THAT'S WHAT I'M COMMITTED TO.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL SAFE IN THEIR
HOPES AND WALK STREETS OUT FEAR
AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES IN
PEACE. WE WILL CONTINUE
LISTENING AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TAKING ACTION. THIS IS A
COLLECTIVE RESPONSE. THANK YOU
ALL. AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING
TO THAT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
BOB KETTLE.
>>> THANK YOU, MAYOR WILSON. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMEMBER DJD5
WHO REPRESENTS NORTH AURORA AND
THE DEPUTY MAYOR WHO I SEE OUT
THERE AND OF COURSE, CITY
ATTORNEY EVANS, CHIEF BARNES AND
I SEE FORMER COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
AND REPRESENTATIVE COLLETT FROM
THE STATEHOUSE IS THERE. YES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK ON THE ISSUES ON NORTH
AURORA, SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SEEN IN RAINIER BEACH
AND CID. ALSO THE FACTORS
IMPACTING AURORA LITTLE SAIGON,
DOWNTOWN, THIRD PIKE ANDTINE,
AND DOWNTOWN AND THIRD AND
BLANCHARD, AND LAKE CITY AND
OTHER AREAS IN OUR CITY. YOU
KNOW, I'M NOT OVERLY CONFIDENT
RIGHT NOW THAT THIS PRESS AND
THE COMMUNITY MEETING THAT I WAS
AT ON SATURDAY NIGHT WILL
ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS WITH PUBLIC
SAFETY. IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE OF
TWO MINDS WITH THE CITY. OVER
THE PAST DECADE PLUS, I'VE
NOTED THAT THERE'S A LACK OF
BALANCE AND A SINGULAR FOCUS
OFTENTIMES IN OUR NEIGHBORS IN
CRISIS. WE SHOULD ALWAYS START
THERE AND HAVE COMPASSION AND
NOT HAVING THE FOCUS, TOO, ON
THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN CRISIS LIKE
NORTH AURORA. IT'S SO
IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S
BEEN A LACK OF LEADERSHIP THAT
IS SUSTAINED WITH AN ELIMINATE
OF FOLLOW UP AND FOLLOW THROUGH.
THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF
IMPLEMENTATION OF ORDINANCES
PASSED INTO LAW. THERE WAS A
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO MATCH
THE COMPASSION IN OUR EFFORTS.
WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE PASSION
BUT WE ALSO NEED THE
ACCOUNTABILITY. ON ONE HAND,
PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE OTHER
HAND, THERE'S PUBLIC HEALTH,
HOUSING, AND HUMAN SERVICES ON
THE OTHER HAND. SO THE OF TWO
MINDS ISSUE CHALLENGE THAT WE
HAVE IS AN ELEMENT OF THE
PARALYSIS. THE BLAME HAS BEEN
THE BLAME FOR AS LONG AS IT'S
BEEN. AND THERE'S BEEN
DIFFERENT EFFORTS UNDER TAKING
THAT SOMETIMES CANCEL EACH OTHER
OUT AND SOMETIMES LEADS TO THE
PARALYSIS. TO MOVE FORWARD IN
ADDRESSING THE CRISIS ON NORTH
AURORA WE NEED TO PASS THAT
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND WE HAVE
TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF 1258
OFFICERS IN SPD. WHY IS THIS SO
IMPORTANT? WE HAD TO TAKE
OFFICERS FROM DETECTIVE
DIVISIONS AND PUT THEM IN PATROL
AND THAT'S A MAJOR IMPACT ON
WHAT IS SHOWING UP ON NORTH
AURORA. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
REALTIME CRIME CENTER IN THE CPD
PROGRAM AND IN THIS CASE THE
AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER
IN THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WHAT WE
ARE SEEING. SDOT ACTION BECAUSE
OF THE CARS, AND OTHER LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING THIS. WE
SHOULD BE AS WELL. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO IMPLEMENT OUR
ORDINANCES, BUT AS I MENTIONED,
AND I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH
THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE MAYOR
AND EVERYONE. IF WE NEED TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS WE CAN OR WE CAN
CREATE NEW ORDINANCES. I AM
WILLING TO WORK WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE JUDICIAL
BRANCHES TO BRING NEW ORDINANCES
OR FIX UPDATES LIKE THE CASE MAY
BE LIKE CHRONIC NUISANCE
PROPERTIES TO MAKE THEM
EFFECTIVE. BY THE WAY, THANK
YOU, CITY ATTORNEY, FOR USING
THE CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY.
THAT WAS NOT A CHARACTERISTIC OF
CITY ATTORNEYS FROM THE PAST. I
AM THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE,
REPRESENTATIVE COLLETT. THE TWO
MINDS CHALLENGE AFFECTS OLYMPIA
AS MUCH AS IT DOES SEATTLE.
IMAGINE IF THAT BILL HAS PASSED
BUT IT DIDN'T. IF YOU WANT TO
UNDERSTAND THE TWO MINDS ISSUE
LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
BILL. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR
AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED
THE ELEMENT. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THE YOUNG WOMEN, THE GIRLS,
THE MINORS, MINORS THAT ARE ON
AURORA. AND I SAID THE WORD
MINOR AND I SHOULD ADD THAT SEX
WITH A MINOR IS RAPE. AGAIN, GO
BACK TO 1265 ON THAT POINT. BUT
WE ALSO HAVE TO WORK PUBLIC
SAFETY REALLY HARD. I'VE BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR A DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR A LONG TIME,
AND I WANT THANK THE MAYOR FOR A
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HER TEAM, SOMEONE THAT WE CAN
WORK WITH AND HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH TO BRING THESE TEAMS
TOGETHER AND I WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR BECAUSE
WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ALONG
THAT FRONT. AND I CAN BE -- JUST
TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD A LITTLE
BIT, A LITTLE FUNNY, AND IT'S A
GREAT DECISION BUT NOT ONE THAT
WE TURN ON OR OFF. SO HERE WE
ARE. I JUST WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND
FOR LISTENING TO THIS. AND I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO
TAKE THIS ACTION TO MOVE FORWARD
IN TERMS OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE'RE FACING TODAY. WITH THAT,
I WOULD LIKE TO TURN OVER THE
MIC TO CHIEF BARNES.
>> WHERE PROTOCOL HAVING BEEN
ESTABLISHED BY PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS, GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS CHIEF SHON
BARNES AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF BEING THE CHIEF FOR SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. GUN VIOLENCE
AGAINST THE MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED HAVE PLAGUED
THIS AREA FOR TOO LONG. FOR
PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING IN
NORTH SEATTLE, THEY HAVE ENDURED
ENOUGH. LET ME BE CLEAR. THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AN
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS
COMMUNITIES UNACCEPTABLE PUBLIC
SAFETY NIGHTMARE IN
CORROBORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS
TO PROTECT SURVIVORS OF SEX
TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION. WE
WILL NOT LET THIS COMMUNITY BE
EXPLOITED AS A PLACE OF BUSINESS
FOR CRIMINALS. TO IMMEDIATELY
ADDRESS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WE AT
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ARE TAKING A TWO-PRONGED
APPROACH, ONE THAT FOCUSING ON A
SHORT-TERM, DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSE
AND ANOTHER ON A LONGER, COMPLEX
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WITH OUR
PARTNERS. AT THE END OF MAY, WE
ASSIGNED TWO DEDICATED OFFICERS
TO ACTIVELY PATROL THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THE DAY OF
EVERY SHIFT WITH SPECIAL
EMPHASIS ON THE NIGHT HOURS.
THESE TWO OFFICERS ARE NOT ONLY
SIMPLY DRIVING IN THEIR CARS BUT
THEY'RE ALSO PROACTIVELY
GETTING OUT OF THEIR CARS TO
ADDRESS ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
THEY WITNESS AND HOPEFULLY TO
PREVENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY FROM
HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
STARTING NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE
BICYCLE OFFICERS IN AND AROUND
THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DETER CRIME
AND LOOK FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
AS OUR STAFFING ALLOWS. TO
COMBAT FURTHER IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WE WILL DEPLOY
OFFICERS FROM THE COMMUNITY
RESPONSE GROUP TO CONDUCT
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TO HOLD
CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE. THESE
OPERATIONS INCLUDE THE USE OF
UNDERCOVER OFFICERS. THAT IS A
NOTICE. WE'LL ALSO HAVE OUR
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS
WALKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
DAILY, CONNECTING WITH BUSINESS
OWNERS AND RESIDENTS AS WELL.
SECONDLY, REGARDING OUR
LONG-TERM STRATEGIES, OUR
INVESTIGATION THEREOF IS
ACTIVELY INVESTIGATING NUMEROUS,
NUMEROUS CASES INVOLVING GUN
VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
CURRENTLY THE UNIT HAS 23 ACTIVE
SHOOTING INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY
FROM THAT AREA. TO FURTHER
ENHANCE THE RESULT WE HAVE A
DETECTIVE DEDICATED TO
INVESTIGATING SHOOTINGS IN THE
AREA AS WELL. I WANT TO BE
CLEAR. OUR DETECTIVE WILL BE
TAKING A SURVIVOR-CENTRIC
APPROACH. THE FIRST PRIORITY IS
SAFETY, STABILIZATION, AND
CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS TO
SERVICES SUCH AS ADVOCACY,
MEDICAL CARE AND LONG-TERM
SUPPORT. ARRESTING SEX WORKERS
MAY PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK. WE
NEED TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS. THIS
IS MODERN-DAY SLAVERY. OUR
COMMUNITY SERVES AS A MORAL
COMPASS AND PLAYING A CRITICAL
ROLE. MANY CASES ARE SOLVED
BECAUSE SOMEONE STEPPED TOWARD
AND PROVIDED US WITH INFORMATION
WHEN NO OTHER LEADS EXISTED. THE
CRIMES THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH
ARE ALSO CONNECTED TO OTHER
CRIMES AND ENTERPRISES LIKE
MONEY LAUNDERING AND WIRE FRAUD.
THESE CONNECTIONS COMPLICATE AND
DO NOT DETER OUR EFFORTS. WE
WILL BE GOING AFTER THE MONEY AS
WELL. WE ARE SEEING RESULTS.
FOUR SHOOTINGS CASES WERE FILED
JUST LAST WEEK AND OUR KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR IS HERE, AND
THE TRAFFICKER IS HELD ON A $1
MILLION BOND MUCH I WANT TO
CLOSE BY EMPHASIZING THERE IS
MUCH WORK TO BE DONE, AND THE
OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES REFLECT
AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO
THOROUGH, DELIBERATE AND
PROACTIVE PATROLS AND MEANINGFUL
AND IMPACTFUL INVESTIGATIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE ARE NOT
QUICK, BUT THEY ARE MEANINGFUL
CASES. THEY ARE ABOUT PROTECTING
SURVIVORS, HOLDING OFFENDERS
ACCOUNTABLE AND ELEVATING THE
SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE
COMMUNITY. OUR FOCUS IS CLEAR.
WE MUST DO MORE TO STRENGTHEN
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND HOLD THOSE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLENT ACTION
IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO EFFECT THIS
CHANGE WE ARE TAKING THE WHOLE
OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH. WE MUST
COME TOGETHER WITH OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS,
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ACT
STRATEGICALLY WITH A RENEWED
SENSE OF URGENCY. IT'S ONLY
THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE,
COLLABORATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE
APPROACH THAT WE HAVE OUR BEST
CHANCE TO FINALLY DELIVER THE
RESULTS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS
BEEN ASKING FOR. THANK YOU.
>> SO NOW WE HAVE TWO MORE
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT WANT TO SAY
BRIEF REMARKS, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA AND COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AND AFTER THAT WE WILL TAKE
QUESTIONS AND I WILL CALL ON
BRAD FROM OUR COMS PERSON TO
HELP US NAVIGATE THE QUESTIONS
THAT ALL OF US HERE WILL BE ABLE
TO ANSWER. THANK YOU. I DON'T
KNOW WHO'S FIRST. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
YOUNG GIRLS ARE BEING SOLD FOR
SEX ON AURORA. IT'S BELIEVED TO
BE THE SECOND-BUSIEST TRACT OF
JUVENILE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN
THE COUNTRY, NOT IN THE CITY,
NOT IN THE STATE, IN THE COUNTRY
AND THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT COMES
WITH THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. SO I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS.
ONE IS FOLLOW THROUGH AND
ADDITIONAL APPROACHES TO GUN
VIOLENCE. ON THE FOLLOW THROUGH
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR HER
LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION BUT LET'S BE
HONEST. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TO DO
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO DO TODAY.
NEVERTHELESS, I DO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IF FOR HER
LEADERSHIP NOT ONLY TO THE
LEGISLATION BUT BEING WITH
COMMUNITY AND HER COMMUNITY IN
D5. I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING PRIORITY TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ APPOINTED
RECENTLY WHEN COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE WAS STILL HERE. WE
CO-AUTHORED A BILL TO GIVE HSD
OR REQUIRE HSD TO SUPPORT
VICTIMS OF SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL
TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION.
THIS WAS FOR THE '25- '26
FISCAL YEAR. HOW THAT FUNDING IS
BEING USED TO GET THE VICTIMS
AWAY FROM PIMPS AND GET THE
SERVICES OR TREATMENT THEY NEED,
I DO NOT KNOW. I HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH THE DIRECTOR
OF HSD THIS MORNING TO ASK WHERE
THE DEPARTMENT WAS IN HIRING THE
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE TO SERVE AS A
VICTIM ADVOCATE TO WORK WITH SPD
ON THIS AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED
AN ANSWER YET. AND I SAY THIS
BECAUSE WE CAN PASS TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S POINT
ALL THE LEGISLATION AND
ORDINANCES THAT WE WANT, BUT IF
THE CITY DEPARTMENTS DO NOT
FOLLOW THROUGH WE WILL NOT GET
RESULTS. SO I AM CALLING TODAY
AND I AM HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE
MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT
DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING FOLLOW
THROUGH ON THE THINGS THAT WE
PASS. THAT IS WHAT'S GONNA KEEP
OUR GIRLS ON AURORA SAVE. THE
OTHER THING I QUICKLY WANT TO
ADDRESS IS GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS
CITY WHICH WE HAVE SEEN INCREASE
AND YES, I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE
TO CHIEF BARNES AND HIS TEAM FOR
THE WORK THEY'VE DONE AND OUR
NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN. BUT THEY
ARE NOT DOWN TO THE LEVELS OF
2018. SO WE STILL NEED TO DO A
LOT OF WORK IN THIS REGARD. SO
WHAT I HAVE DONE IS ON MONDAY, I
HOSTED A GUN VIOLENCE SYMPOSIUM
AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT KING
COUNT I PROSECUTOR LEESA MANION
WAS THERE ALL DAY WITH US, CITY
ATTORNEY ERIKA EVANS WAS THERE
ARE ALL DAY WITH US AND DEPUTY
ATTORNEY BRIAN SURRATT WAS THERE
AND THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
AND CHIEF BARNES WAS THERE ALL
DAY WITH US AND MANY
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WHO WORK IN THE PREVENTION AND
INTERVENTION SPACE AND IT WAS TO
LEARN ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL
APPROACH. WE DO A LOT WITH THE
INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION
STATE AND THERE IS MORE WE CAN
STILL DO, AND THAT EFFORT TALKS
ABOUT FOCUS DETERRENTS AND
MAKING SURE WE ARE IDENTIFYING
THE FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY
CREATING THE MOST VIOLENCE
RELATED TO GUNS IN THE CITY, IN
ANY CITY AND LEARNING FROM OTHER
CITIES, WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES
FROM PHILADELPHIA AND BALTIMORE
AND SOUTH BEND, INDIANA TO TALK
ABOUT THIS APPROACH. AND THE
APPROACH IS SIMPLE. IT'S A
CARROT AND STICK APPROACH.
IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE
CREATING THE MOST HARM, WE TELL
THEM WHAT WE NEED TO STOP,
RUNNING WITH GUNS AND
TERRORIZING OUR STREETS. WE
OFFER SERVICES WHICH ALREADY
THIS CITY DOES SO MUCH TO FUND
SERVICES FOR FOLKS AND IF THEY
DECLINE SERVICES WE ARE GOING TO
HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. AND THAT
IS IT. IT'S SIMPLE. AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR CITY
LEADERS ON NEXT STEPS BECAUSE
THAT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR ME TO
BE SIMPLY A GATHERING OF PEOPLE.
THAT IS THE FIRST STEP AND I'M
SO GRATEFUL THAT EVEN WAS THERE
TOGETHER ALL DAY BECAUSE I KNOW
EVERYBODY CARES. AND NOW WE NEED
TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP, AND
THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE TO
COME ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, COLLECTED
BY MANY MICRONEIGHBORHOODS AND
IT'S AN HONOR AS A DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO
SNEAK TODAY SO I WANT TO KEEP IT
QUICK. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
BRINGING TOGETHER ALL THESE
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. I FOUND
MOMENTUM IS EASY TO LOSE AND
HARD TO BUILD. I WATCHED
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND THEM
WORKING TOGETHER, THEY DID NOT
LOSE AN INCH OF MOMENTUM. THESE
ARE THE THINGS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS BEEN
WORKING ON SINCE DAY ONE OF
BEING BACK HERE FOR NEARLY A
DECADE. WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT HERE IS COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ TOOK THE IDEA OF THE
AURORA COMMONS AND BUILT THAT
INTO NON-PROFIT TO SERVE AND
PROTECT THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY. AND WHAT WE ALSO SEE
TODAY THROUGH HER WORK THAT DID
NOT HAPPEN JUST THIS WEEK AND
HAS BEEN GOING ON IS WORKING TO
BRING TOGETHER THE COUNTY AND
THE CITY PROSECUTORS TO ENSURE
THAT ANYONE WHO IS ENGAGING IN
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY UP THERE WILL
BE PROSECUTED. GUN VIOLENCE IS
PREVENTIBLE. THE BUYING OF
CHILDREN AND HUMANS IS
UNACCEPTABLE. WHAT YOU SEE TODAY
IS THIS GROUP TOGETHER THROUGH
MANY LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT COMING
AND SAYING WE ARE NOT GOING TO
LET THIS HAPPEN ANYMORE. IN MY
TIME GROWING UP HERE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, AURORA HAS
CONSTANTLY BEEN AN UNDERLYING
ISSUE. THE ISSUES THAT WE SEE
TODAY ON NORTH AURORA USED TO
EXTEND DOWN TO THE AURORA BRIDGE
AND DID SO UNTIL MY 20s. I LIVED
ON MOTTO PLACE ON AURORA JUST
AFTER THE THUNDERBIRD HOTEL WAS
CLOSED DOWN UNDER THE CHRONIC
NUISANCE ORDER. I LIVED THERE
AFTER IT STARTED TO RE-THRIVE
AFTER MANY DECADES OF ACTIVITY
ON THE STREET. WHEN I TOOK
OFFICE. THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
WAS OCCURRING DOWN TO 80th. THE
CHRONIC NUISANCE ORDER SHUT DOWN
MOTELS ON 83rd AND 87th AND WE
SEE THIS ISSUE CONTINUE MOVING
NORTH BUT NOT ADDRESSED AT THE
LEVEL YOU SEE TODAY AND THAT'S
WHAT BRINGS ME HOPE, IS THROUGH
THIS COORDINATED EFFORT, WE WILL
TAKE THIS MOMENT AGAIN TO
PROTECT THE SURVIVORS, PROTECT
THOSE THAT ARE NOT IN THEIR OWN
WAY THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT
ANYONE THAT IS ENGAGING IN THE
SELLING OF CHILDREN OR AS A
COMMODITY OR SHOOTING GUNS WILL
BE ARRESTS AND INVESTIGATED AND
PROSECUTED BY PROSECUTOR MANION
AND CITY PROSECUTOR EVANS AND
HELD TO ACCOUNT. THIS IS
UNACCEPTABLE AND AGAIN, I
APPRECIATE THE DECADES THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ENGAGED IN
TO SET US UP IN A GOOD WAY TODAY
AND I THANK THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR BRINGING TOGETHER
THIS LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND RIVERA. NOW WE'LL
TAKE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BUT
WOULD YOU CALL ON FOLKS, PLEASE?
AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHO JUMPS
IN TO TAKE THE QUESTION. [
QUESTION BEING ASKED ]
>> IT WILL COME THROUGH SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY WILL
HAVE TO BE THE ONES THAT TAKE
THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION. CITIES
THE SIZE OF SEATTLE HAVE DOUBLE
THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WE DO.
AND HOW DID THAT WORK WITH THE
PLAN WITH OFFICERS STRETCHED SO
THIN, AND THE GIRLS ALREADY KNOW
THIS. AND HOW REALISTIC ARE THE
PLANS WITH SUCH A SHORT STAFF?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
JEREMY. LET ME BE CLEAR. SINCE
MY ARRIVAL, I MADE ONE THING
CLEAR AND I'LL DO IT AGAIN.
I'M FOCUSING ON WHAT WE HAVE,
NOT WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE. WE'RE
BEING MORE STRATEGIC WITH OUR
RESOURCES. WE'RE MAKING SURE
THAT WE'RE CHIPPING IN. ONE OF
THE MODELS WHEN I GOT HERE IS
EMPOWERING THE PRECINCT CAPTAINS
TO WORK ACROSS BOROUGHS.
PRECINCT CAPTAINS ARE LIKE MINI
SHERIFFS. THEY CAN PULL IN THEIR
OWN RESOURCES AND WE ARE USING
RESOURCES LIKE CR G-TEAM UNDER
INVESTIGATIONS TO GO INTO
PRECINCTS WHEN OFFICERS CAN'T
BE THERE. AND WE HAVE OFFICERS,
A 90 CAR SAYING YOU ARE NOT IN
DISPATCH FOR THIS AMOUNT OF
TIME. OBVIOUSLY, IF WE ARE DOING
AN UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION WE
DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND IN
UNIFORM BUT THE TRUTH IS EVERY
IS CHIPPING IN, NOT JUST AURORA
BUT OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AS
WELL. THIS AFTERNOON
ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK APPROACH TO
THE PROBLEM. WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE IT'S CONSISTENT WHICH IS
WHY WE HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS TO
TEST THE EFFICIENCY OF WHERE WE
ARE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE WANT
TO MEASURE COMMUNITY SENTIMENT.
THEY MAY NOT ALWAYS SEE US ALL
THE TIME. I CAN'T PROMISE IF
YOU SIT ON THE FRONT PORCH YOU
WILL SEE A POLICE CAR EVERY 10
MINUTE S BUT WE WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE
WE ARE DEDICATED.
>> A RELATED QUESTION FOR THE
TEAM. IN A PRESENTATION TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S COMMITTEE
THAT DIDN'T END UP HAPPEN YOU
BUT THE PRESENTATION FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID YOU ARE
ALL GOING TO HAVE TO SLOW DOWN
HIRING AND SPECIFIC BUDGET
CONSTRAINTS AND I KNOW THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS ASKED FOR
CUTS. SO I'M CURIOUS, ARE YOU
GOING TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL
MONEY FOR HIRING THIS YEAR OR
WORK WITHIN THOSE LIMITATIONS?
>> YEAH. I HAVE NOT BEEN
NOTIFIED THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WILL SLOW DOWN ON THE
CURRENT HIRING PLAN FOR THIS
YEAR. WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. WE
CURRENTLY HIRED 78 POLICE
OFFICERS AND WE LOST 38 IN LINE
WHAT WE LOST LAST YEAR. OFFICERS
ARE EXCITED ABOUT FIFA AND THEY
WANT TO STICK AROUND AND WORK
AND BE PART OF A GREAT EVENT. WE
WANT TO WORK WITH THE NUMBER AND
HIT THE NUMBER. AGAIN, IT'S A
ROLLING NUMBER. YOU KNOW, WE
COULD GET 10, FIVE RETIREMENTS
OR SEPARATIONS AFTER FIFA, AND
THEN WE WILL ADJUST. BUT I LIKE
WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR PLAN RIGHT
NOW. NOTHING WAS COMMUNICATED
WITH ME ABOUT THAT. WE NEED MORE
OFFICERS AND WE RIGHT-HAND SIDE
THE CONSTRAINT OF A BUDGET.
UNTIL I HEAR DIFFERENTLY THAT'S
THE PLAN GOING FORWARD.
>> KING 5. AND YOU MENTIONED
MAYBE HALF A DOZEN STREET
CLOSURES FROM SDOT. ANY
TIMELINES FOR THE RESIDENTS?
LIKE ARE WE TALKING HOURS AWAY,
DAYS AWAY FROM THOSE KICKS IN?
>> I BELIEVE WE ARE DOING THAT
ASAP. I DON'T WANT TO PUT A
DATE ON IT AND BE WRONG BUT WE
ARE MOVING -- WE ARE MOVING
RAPIDLY TO DO THAT. OH, HI. THIS
IS ANGELA BRADY.
>> WE WILL BE MAKING THE
SITUATION HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS. I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE
MAYOR. I AM PART OF A GROUP FROM
AURORA. 97th WAS NOT MENTIONED.
I WONDERED IF YOU CHECK YOUR
NOTES ON THAT. IT'S ONE OF THE
MOST VIOLENT STREETS. THE HOTELS
THERE KEEP PEOPLE THERE. AND IN
THEIR BUILDING AS WELL, AND MY
SECOND QUESTION WAS NORTH 103,
NORTH 104 AND NORTH 109 ARE ALSO
SOME OF THE MOST VIOLENT ONES
AND I WILL BE NEXT. AND THERE
HAS BEEN -- THERE WAS AN ELDERLY
COUPLE THAT WAS BEATEN AND PUT
IN ICU. THEY LIVE THERE ON THE
CORNER OF 109th. AND THAT'S
ALSO A BIG PRIORITY FOR US ON
SDOT'S PREVIOUS PLANS, 103, 104
AND 109 TO CLOSE THOSE STREETS.
I APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD TAKE A
LOOK AT THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I
WILL REITERATE OUR PLAN AS OF
TODAY TO MAKE IT SUPER CLEAR
WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO WE'VE
GOT-WE'RE CLOSING ACCESS AT
NORTH 96, NORTH 98th, NORTH 100,
AND NORTH 102 STREETS. THOSE ARE
NEW CLOSURES. THE TEMPORARY
CLOSURES IN PLACE TODAY AT NORTH
101 AND NORTH 107 STREETS WILL
REMAIN IN PLACE. THERE WERE
RECENT INSTALLED MEASURES AS YOU
NOTED ON NORTH 97. THOSE WILL
ALSO REMAIN IN PLACE. THOSE ARE
MEASURES THAT CALM SPEEDS. SO
THEY SLOW VEHICLES DOWN. THAT'S
AN IMPORTANT CIRCULATION ACCESS
STREET. SO WE NEED TO MAINTAIN
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE ROUTE AND
KEEP THAT AVAILABLE FOR POLICE
AND PARTICULARLY THE NORTH
PRECINCT. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH
THE ENVIRONMENT, WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ON ALL OF THESE
CLOSURES AND STREET-CALMING
MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
NOT JUST CLOSING DOWN ALL THE
STREETS AND LIMITING THAT REALLY
IMPORTANT ACCESS TO POLICE,
FIRE, GARBAGE PICKUP, ALL OF
THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT ACCESS
NEEDS. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR
QUESTION.
>> WE HAVE TIME FOR A FEW MORE.
>> THIS IS A QUESTION FOR CITY
ATTORNEY EVANS. MS. EVANS, YOU
HEARD COUNCILMEMBER BOB KETTLE
OFFER AN OLIVE BRANCH IN SOME
WAYS. WHAT CONCESSIONS OR
CHANGES WOULD YOU NEED
PROSECUTING ON THE SODA
ORDINANCE THAT IS ALREADY ON THE
BOOKS?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
JONATHAN. I WILL START BY SAYING
THAT SOAP AND SODA HAVE BEEN IN
ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE
FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND IF THEY
WERE EFFECTIVE, AURORA AND OTHER
AREAS OF SEATTLE INCLUDING
LITTLE SAIGON WOULD BE SAFE, AND
THEY'RE NOT. WHAT WE ARE
FOCUSED ON ARE POLICIES AND DATA
THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE. SOAP
ORDERS DON'T WORK. GETTING GUNS
OUT OF THE HANDS OF FOLKS THAT
ARE COMMITTING VIOLENCE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY
TO STOP THE GUN VIOLENCE. THAT
IS WHAT OUR OFFICE IS BEING LED
BY, TWO EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS
MYSELF AND JENNA ROBERTSS WHO IS
HERE, MY CRIMINAL DIVISION CHIEF
HAS A COMBINED 20 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS. THOSE
ARE THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
THAT WE ARE LEADING IN. THANK
YOU.
>> LET'S WRAP IT UP NOW.
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU. THESE ARE OUR
DAUGHTERS, OUR NIECES, OUR
SISTERS, A LOT OF TIMES, THAT
END UP HERE IN NORTH SEATTLE. SO
THANK YOU FOR BEING LOUD. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, FOR
LEADING THE CHARGE. WE
APPRECIATE THAT. SORRY FOR WHAT
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THERE, AND
I WANT TO SAY HERE IN ALL
SINCERITY I HAVE NEVER SEEN A
CITY PULL TOGETHER LIKE THIS. WE
HAVE ALL THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCHES, ALL HANDS ON DECK,
EVERYTHING TOGETHER, AND I JUST
WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, MAYBE
TODAY, TOMORROW, YOU LET US
KNOW, WHEN CAN WE SEE THIS AS
WELL IN THE SOUTH END OF SEATTLE
WITH WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE
BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT TAKES
ALL-CITY APPROACH FOR THAT. YOU
GUYS ARE NOW PROOF TODAY --
NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE AND YOU
ARE THE LOW GUY -- AND I HAVE
NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. THIS IS
NOW POSSIBLE AND TELL US IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND IN SOUTH
SEATTLE THAT YOU CAN WORK
TOGETHER AND SOLVE THE ISSUE. I
DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN
BUT I HOPE IT HAPPENS SOON.
>> OKAY. SO LET ME -- THANK YOU
FOR THAT QUESTION. LET ME TELL
YOU THE FIRST REASON WHY YOU
HEAR A LOT OF PASSION WITH SOME
OF THE WOMEN THAT HAVE PRESENTED
TODAY. AN ARTICLE CAME OUT
YESTERDAY ABOUT 40% OF THE
WOMEN, THE CHILDREN THAT ARE
BEING TRAFFICKED IN OUR CITY ARE
BLACK WOMEN, 70%. AND THESE
STATS ARE BRINGING PASSION FROM
FOLKS UP HERE THAT LOOK LIKE US
BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE
SEEING BECAUSE A LOT OF THE
GIRLS ARE BROUGHT TO RAINIER
BEACH AND THEY ARE BROUGHT TO
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. THEY ARE
ALL OVER THE COUNTY BROUGHT ON
AURORA, SOUTH KING COUNTY,
AUBURN, KENT, FEDERAL WAY,
BROUGHT TO AURORA FOR THIS
ACTIVITY. SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE
A LOT OF THE PASSION THAT IS
BEHIND ME, AND SO -- OKAY.
EXACTLY. AND THEN THE SECOND --
YOU DID. AND THAT'S WHY I SAID
TO CONVERGE. THE SECOND THING,
OMARI, I ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS
NOT JUST AN AURORA ISSUE. THIS
IS CENTRAL BEACH AND THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND I AM GOING TO MAKE
SURE THAT I AM ELEVATING RAINIER
BEACH, CENTRAL DISTRICT, ALL
THESE FOLKS WHO A COORDINATED
EFFORT. YOU ALL ARE SEEING IT ON
YOUR FRONT PORCH RIGHT NOW AND
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THE
SOUTH DISTRICT FOR YEARS AND
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THAT AND I WILL LET
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND MAYOR. THIS CITY IS 800,000
PEOPLE AND WE REPRESENT ALL OF
US, NORTH AND SOUTH, NOT JUST
FOR THE BASE AND THE PEOPLE WHO
VOTED FOR US BUT THE WHOLE CITY,
THE WHOLE DAMN CITY. AND IF WE
HAVE BULLETS AND WE SEE IT MORE
AND MORE, WE WE KNOW IT IS TRACK
STARTS FROM BELLINGHAM TO
PULLMAN. AND MY FRIEND ERIKA AND
THE CITY ATTORNEY EVANS I WILL
SAY THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE
TRUTH. AS WOMEN OF COLOR AND
WORKING ON THE ISSUES AND HAVING
OUR SISTERS AND OUR AUNTIES AND
COUSINS LOST AND NO ONE GOES
LOOKING FOR THEM, AND WE ARE NOT
TALKING ABOUT ONLYFANS. WE ARE
NOT TALKING ABOUT CAM GIRLS.
THIS ISN'T AN EPISODE OF PRETTY
WOMAN. THIS IS 14 AND
15-YEAR-OLD BLACK AND BROWN
GIRLS SOLD. THE ROOT OF THAT IS
THE CHILDREN ARE A PRODUCT AND
WE KNOW WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA HAS
DONE. IT'S MADE IT EASIER. SO
WE ARE CALLING ON THIS CITY TO
NOT JUST MAKE THIS -- YOU KNOW
ME. I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A
BUNCH OF GOVERNMENT WORD SALAD.
IT'S BULL [ Bleep ]. IT'S TIME
THAT WE SAY THAT WOMEN, GIRLS
ARE VALUABLE AND WE'RE GOING TO
TO DEDICATE RESOURCES. IF THAT
MEANS CLOSING DOWN STREETS, AND
I'VE SEEN THIS CITY CLOSE DOWN
STREETS FOR BIKES, FOR
PEDESTRIANS, FOR THE PARK. I'VE
SEEN IT. I'VE SEEN ACTUAL
STREETS CLOSED OFF WITH A METAL
BARRIER LIKE YOU CAN'T CUT
THROUGH ANYMORE. THE NEIGHBORS
WERE UPSET THAT PEOPLE WERE
CUTTING THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. I WATCHED SDOT PUT
UP BIKE LANES AND CURVES AND
CHANGE THE PARKING SITUATION.
THAT MAKES SENSE. YOU DON'T
WANT 18 RVs IN THE HOUSE AND
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
OMARI, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
WE ALL CARE ABOUT OUR CITY, AND
THIS IS AN ISSUE YOU CAN SLOW
THAT YOU VALUE US AND THAT'S
IMPORTANT AND AGAIN, I WANT TO
SAY IT AGAIN AND I'VE SAID IT
MANY TIMES IN COUNCIL MEETING.
YOU CAN TELL AND YOU CAN VALUE A
CITY, A GOVERNMENT A PEOPLE
ABOUT HOW THEY TREATMENT THEIR
WOMEN AND GIRLS. THAT'S RIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
OMARI, I WANT TO AFFIRM THAT
EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE
CITY THAT IS EXPERIENCING
CONSISTENT PUBLIC SAFETY
PROBLEMS DESERVES THIS LEVEL OF
COLLABORATION WITH OUR LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT. WE ARE HERE
COMMITTING TO THIS AND IT'S UP
TO US TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND WE
WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND
RAINIER BEACH AND THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND I ALL THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. I WILL SAY THE
WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING, WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE COUNCILMEMBERS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. AND WE ARE COMMITTED
TO DOING THAT BETTER BECAUSE I
KNOW WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO. WE
ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO DO
THAT WORK, AND EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES IT.
>> SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS
TALKED ABOUT FIFA AND SEX
TRAFFICKING DURING FIFA AND YOU
TALKED PASSIONATELY ABOUT
PREVENTING THE TRAFFICKING OF
WOMEN AND GIRLS. MY QUESTION IS,
IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC EVIDENCE
THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO TO
AURORA AS OPPOSED TO GOING
ONLINE DURING FIFA? THERE WILL
BE A SPIKE SEX TRAFFICKING AND
WHAT IS BEING BEEN ABOUT THAT?
>> THIS MIGHT BE BETTER FOR THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. I AM NOT
AWARE OF IT. BUT DO YOU WANT TO
SPEAK?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM NICOLE
POWELL, ASSISTANT CHIEF. AND AS
YOU WERE SAYING FIFA, AND WE ARE
DOING SEVERAL APPLICATIONS IN
AURORA AND ONLINE AND I CAN'T
GET SPECIFIC BUT WE ARE
ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.
>>> SO SAD WE