F0
>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. ON THIS
RAINY, SEATTLE MORNING. THE
APRIL 22nd, 2026 MEETING OF THE
LIBRARY'S EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT'S 9:32 A.M.
I'M MARITZA RIVERA, THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE. WOULD THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> GREAT. GOOD MORNING, AGAIN,
TO COLLEAGUES, TO THOSE OF YOU
WATCHING ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL,
AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE
JOINED US IN CHAMBERS. TODAY, WE
WILL START THE PROCESS FOR
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
DIRECTOR, QUYNH PHAM. THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE SHALL INTRODUCE
DR. PHAM, AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
QUESTIONS. BEFORE WE GET TO
THAT, WE WILL BEGIN WITH
COMMENTS. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE'LL
NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE TO THE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA OR THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE?
>> WE HAVE SIX SPEAKERS, AND ONE
REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> WE'LL GIVE EACH SPEAKER TWO
MINUTES, THEN GO TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS AND THEN GO ONLINE.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS UP
TO 60 MINUTES. EACH SPEAKER WILL
IS ARE TWO MINUTES. SPEAKERS
WILL GO IN ORDER WHICH THEY WERE
REGISTERED. WE'LL START WITH
PUBLIC SPEAKERS FIRST. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. ALL RIGHT.
ALL MICS ARE LIVE. SO IF YOU
WANT TO STEP UP, I'M GOING TO
CALL A FEW AT A TIME, AND YOU'RE
WELCOME TO STEP UP TO A MIC.
JAMIE LEE, MIKE STEWART, SUE --
I'M SO -- TALCA. THANK YOU,
SUE. ALL RIGHT, JAMIE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
JAMIE LEE, AND I'M HERE WITH
JARED JOHNSON ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE 10 DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY. WE'RE HERE IN
SUPPORT OF QUYNH PHAM'S
APPOINTMENT FOR DIRECTER OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. I FIRST MET QUYNH
TEN YEARS AGO. SHE BEGAN HER
TIME AT THE FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON SOON AFTER. OVER THE
YEARS, WE'VE GROWN TOGETHER AS
LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M
SO PROUD THAT SHE'S ABLE TO
SERVE IN THIS ROLE IN HER CITY.
AT HER TIME, AT FLS, I WATCHED
HER GROWING A SMALL ORGANIZATION
FROM THE GROUND UP. ANYONE THAT
KNOWS OUR LIVES IN COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, KNOWS THAT WE
PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO WORK WITH
ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THAT
IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S
NOT AN EASY JOB WHEN WE HAVE TO
WORK WITH EVERYONE, AND THAT'S
HOW IT GOES. I WATCHED HER LEARN
AND GROW, AND ADOPT TO WHATEVER
WAS THROWN HER WAY, WITH A
PRACTICAL MINDSET AND BALANCED
DECISION MAKING. I THINK OUR
LARGEST AND MOST IMPACTFUL
ACHIEVEMENT IS THE LITTLE SAIGON
LANDMARK PROJECT. NOT ONLY IS IT
ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE
PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE AS ON
ORGANIZATION, WE'VE BEEN
IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THEY'VE
ADDRESSED COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND
CONCERNS TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A
REALITY. WE'RE SO PROUD TO
BREAK GROUND LATER THIS YEAR,
WHILE QUYNH WILL BE HERE --
WON'T BE HERE WHEN IT HAPPENS,
HER HEART IS IN THE PROJECT. I
LOOK FORWARD TO HER BRINGING HER
APPROACH TO PARTNERSHIP,
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND AND OVERALL
LOVE FOR COMMUNITY TO THE REST
OF THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JAMIE. MIKE
STEWART, THEN SUE, THEN MATT
HIYASHI.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS MIKE
STEWART. NEIGHBORHOOD
IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION THAT
REPRESENTS HUNDREDS OF
BUSINESSES AND THOUSANDS OF
RESIDENTS IN BALLARD. I'M
PLEASED TO JOIN TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF QUYNH'S APPOINTMENT AS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER
WITH QUYNH IN HER ROLE AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON, AND I
HAVE ALWAYS FOUND QUYNH TO BE AN
EXCELLENT PARTNER AND
COLLABORATOR, AS WE WORK
TOGETHER TO ADVANCE IMPORTANT
POLICY INITIATIVES. QUYNH IS AN
OUTSTANDING COMMUNICATOR, A
STRONG LEADER, AND SHE CARES
PASSIONATELY ABOUT ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT QUYNH
IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THIS
ROLE AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
CONFIRM HER APPOINTMENT AS
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE. NICE TO SEE
YOU. SUE, MATT, AND MICHAEL ARE
NEXT. WELCOME.
>> I'M SUE. I'M NOT ANYTHING
RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE HAD MANY,
MANY MANY YEARS WORKING IN THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IN LITTLE
SAIGON AREA IN COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT WORK. I WILL SAY
THAT QUYNH IS ONE OF THE
OUTSTANDING YOUNG LEADERS IN OUR
COMMUNITY. SHE LISTENS, SHE'S
WISE BEYOND HER YEARS. SHE
UNDERSTANDS THE COMPLEXITY OF
WORKING IN A COMMUNITY AND ALSO
WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR,
WHICH CANNOT BE -- IS NOT AN
EASY THING TO DO. SHE'S ONE OF
MY FAVORITE PEOPLE. I AM JUST
REALLY SAD THAT SHE'S NOT GOING
TO BE AT FLS. BUT THE CITY IS
BETTER FOR IT. YOU'RE GOING TO,
YOU KNOW -- HAVING HER WORK FOR
YOU IS GOING TO BE AMAZING,
BECAUSE SHE LISTENS, SHE CARES,
AND SHE UNDERSTANDS THE
COMPLEXITY OF COMMUNITY. AND
THAT, IN AND OF ITSELF WILL HELP
THE CITY A LOT. BUT WE WILL MISS
HER IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WE'LL
SEE HER AROUND. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUE. MATT,
MICHAEL, AND THEN LAUREN
LUNDBERG. GO AHEAD, MATT.
>> YES, MATT. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT DIRECTOR PHAM'S
CONFIRMATION HERE. I'VE BEEN A
COMMUNITY MEMBER AND HAVE HAD
THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH
QUYNH BOTH IN HER ROLE AS
DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON AND AS HER AS A LEADER IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE -- THE
ADVISORY DIVISION, ADVISORY
GROUP. AND I'M JUST SO PLEASED
TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN A WITNESS
TO QUYNH HAS A VERY UNIQUE
LEADERSHIP IN THAT SHE IS BOTH
INCREDIBLY KIND AND LIKE SUE
SAID, AN INCREDIBLY GOOD
LISTENER, BUT SO POWERFULLY
EFFECTIVE. AND WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACES IN
THE CITY NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE
CHALLENGES THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CONTINUES TO FACE, BUT BECAUSE
IT IS THE LAST ETHNIC, HISTORIC
ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR CITY.
WITH THOSE CHALLENGES, WE'VE
JUST SEEN QUYNH DO TREMENDOUS
THINGS IN THE CITY. WE'RE
REALLY PROUD TO SUPPORT HER AND
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT HER AS SHE STEPS INTO
THIS NEW ROLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MATT. MICHAEL,
LAUREN, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO
ONLINE SPEAKERS.
>> I'M MIKO, I CAN'T REMEMBER
WHAT SHE SAID, I'M NOTHING
RIGHT NOW? I HAVE NOTHING RIGHT
NOW. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF THE CONFIRMATION OF
QUYNH PHAM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF
THE -- DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. I'VE KNOWN QUYNH
16 YEARS? I DON'T KNOW, LIKE 83
YEARS, MAYBE. 16 YEARS. AND SHE
STARTED OFF AS AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE
SEATTLE CHINATOWN DISTRICT
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. I
ACTUALLY THINK SHE VOLUNTEERED
IN COLLEGE AS WELL WITH THE
ORGANIZATION. THE THING THAT I
CAN SPEAK TO ABOUT QUYNH IS THAT
SHE REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE
COMPLEXITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
ESPECIALLY ONES THAT ARE SO
IMPORTANT TO CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES. SHE IS ABLE TO DEAL
WITH THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE
UGLY OF WHICH THERE IS A LOT
WHEN YOU WORK IN CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS. SHE IS AN
EXTREMELY GOOD LISTENER, AND
THEN SHE TAKES WHAT SHE HEARS TO
HELP FORM STRATEGIES TO
UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM AND THEN
GETS REALLY TACTICAL ABOUT WHAT
YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE SITUATION
BETTER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST
-- I MEAN, YOU CAN COME UP WITH
ALL KINDS OF THINGS ABOUT
POSITIVE INTENT AND ALL THAT,
BUT CAN YOU ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT
THE THING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE
IT BETTER? AND QUYNH HAS AN
ABILITY TO DO THAT. DO NOT THINK
THAT THAT GOOD SKIN UNDERLIES A
LOT OF NAIVETY. SHE DOES HAVE
GOOD SKIN. SO WITH THAT, I'D
LIKE -- YOU ALL ARE SO LUCKY.
THE COMMUNITY LOSES SOMEBODY,
BUT THAT'S OKAY, YOU'RE NOT
THAT FAR AWAY, AND WE WILL KEEP
BRINGING YOU FOOD, QUYNH. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LAUREN LUNDBERG,
AND I WILL SAY, YOU WERE A
FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, SO MOST RECENTLY, SO
I'LL GIVE YOU RECOGNITION FOR
THAT. BUT YOU WERE, AND WE WERE
LUCKY TO HAVE YOUR SERVICE. SO
THANK YOU. LAUREN LUNDBERG.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, I'M
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SODO
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA. AND
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE DIRECTOR OF
QUYNH PHAM AS DIRECTOR OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. I'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH QUYNH
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
SURROUNDING THE STADIUM DISTRICT
AND THE MANY IMPACTS THAT WE ALL
EXPERIENCE, DUE TO A LARGE EVENT
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. QUYNH
BRINGS A DEEP COMMITMENT TO
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND HER
EXPERIENCE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH
DIVERSE COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATES
HER ABILITY TO LISTEN, BUILD
TRUST, AND TRANSLATE COMMUNITY
VOICES INTO MEANINGFUL ACTION.
WHEN STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES,
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER, HER
LEADERSHIP WOULD BE A
SIGNIFICANT ASSET. QUYNH HAS
CONSISTENTLY SHOWN AN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUE
NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS
ACROSS OUR CITY, AND A
DEDICATION TO ENSURING THAT ALL
VOICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE
HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED,
ARE HEARD AND VALUED. HER
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH AND
THOUGHTFUL DECISION MAKING MAKES
HER WELL SUITED TO LEAD
INITIATIVES THAT FOSTER STRONGER
MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. I AM
CONFIDENT THAT QUYNH WILL SERVE
WITH COMPASSION AND
EFFECTIVENESS AS DIRECTOR OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND I URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT HER CONFIRMATION. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LAUREN. ALL RIGHT,
WE'LL GO TO ONLINE SPEAKERS.
DAVID HAINS, PLEASE PRESS STAR
6, AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID HAYNES. OUT
OF ALL NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU WILL
ALL CHOOSE LITTLE SAIGON, THE
HEADQUARTERS OF PROSTITUTION AND
PROLIFIC DRUGS WITH SHADY
CHARACTERS HIDING BEHIND SOME OF
THE SLUM OWNERS OF THE BUILDINGS
BETWEEN CHINATOWN AND, YOU KNOW,
I DIDN'T CALL IN FOR THIS, BUT
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A FILL IN
THE BLANK GUARANTEE, IT'S LIKE
HOW MANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE
CORRUPT IS SHE FRIENDS WITH, YOU
KNOW? BUT LIKE I SAID, I DIDN'T
CALL IN FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S
NOT FAIR TO [ INAUDIBLE ]
SOMETHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA.
BECAUSE THE LIBRARY HAS REAL
NEEDS FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND I
DON'T HEAR ANY CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S LIKE YOU ALL ARE WAITING
FOR THE MONEY TO COME IN BEFORE
YOU START INVESTING AND
IMPROVING THE LIBRARY. AND SOME
OF THEM, YOU LITERALLY NEED TO
BUILD NEW ONES, INSTEAD OF
CONSTANTLY PATCHWORK, FIXING
THESE DILAPIDATED, LIBRARIES
WITH SOME ECHO CONCEPT OF
KEEPING PEOPLE AWAKE IN THE
LIBRARY. BUT IT'S NOT FAIR THAT
THE LIBRARY ABUSIVE UNION WHO
INVESTED MOST OF THE MONEY IN
PERSONAL SPACE AND PRIVACY FOR
THEMSELVES WHILE LEAVING ALL OF
US TO PUT UP WITH ALL THE
BEHAVIORAL CRISIS AND DRUG
ADDICTS IN THE LIBRARY THAT ARE
A SPILLOVER FROM BAD PUBLIC
SAFETY POLICIES THAT THE
LIBRARIANS ARE TOO AFRAID TO
CALL THE SERVICE PROVIDERS,
BECAUSE THE SERVICE PROVIDERS
ARE FAILING IN THEIR OUTREACH TO
GIVE SOMEBODY A SHOWER,
EXPEDITIOUSLY, THEY PICK THEM
UP, INSTEAD OF SAYING, HERE'S A
FLYER, YOU'VE GOT TO GO TODAY.
IT'S NOT FAIR THAT WE HAVE A
PROLIFIC AMOUNT OF CONCERNS
INSIDE THE LIBRARY, WHERE YOU
CAN'T SIT DOWN AND ENJOY
YOURSELF, BECAUSE THERE'S ALL
OF THESE PEOPLE BOTHERING YOU,
AND BECAUSE. DESIGNS OF THE
LIBRARY ARE ILL-SUITED FOR THEIR
PURPOSE, AND IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
TAKING COMMUNITY AND FORCING
PEOPLE INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S
PERSONAL SPACE, LIKE SOME
DEVIANT PERVERTED
MISINTERPRETATION OF POLICY.
>> CHAIR, THAT WAS OUR LAST
REGISTERED SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU, I WANTED RECORD TO
REFLECT COUNCILMEMBER LIN IS
HERE WITH US, REMOTELY AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
I JUST WANT TO DO A QUICK CHECK,
THERE'S A LOT OF AUDIENCE
MEMBERS. IF YOU WANT CHANCE TO
SIGN IN AND SAY SOMETHING, LET
ME KNOW. THEN THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED.
>> CHAIR?
>> OH, YEAH, YOU CAN SAY
SOMETHING, SURE. SORRY ABOUT
THAT. I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND GO
UP. THANK YOU. COME ON UP. YES.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, READY? YOU
MAY BEGIN. LET'S SEE. HANG ON.
SUSAN, YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, HI, I'M
SUSAN, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK,
ENDORSE, ON BEHALF OF MY FRIEND
QUYNH PHAM. I AM SO EXCITED
ABOUT HER APPOINTMENT. SHE IS A
LEADER THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN
WAITING FOR. SHE HAS BOTH THE
ABILITY TO HOLD STRATEGY AND
INVEST IN LONG TERM CHANGE, AND
THE HUMILITY TO CONNECT WITH
PEOPLE ONE-ON-ONE OVER EATING
FAA, BUT AS A COMPETITION. FEE
COMES WITH GRACE AND KINDNESS
AND AUTHENTICITY AND INTEGRITY.
SHE COMES FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION, BUT
BECAUSE OF HER VAST EXPERIENCE
IN THE CID, SHE UNDERSTANDS
ISSUES AT A GRANULAR LEVEL, ON A
PEOPLE LEVEL, AND A SYSTEMATIC
LEVEL. I HIGHLY ENDORSE HER
APPOINTMENT. I AM SO EXCITED
THAT SHE WILL BE LEADING OUR
CITY. QUYNH, FOR THE WIN.
>> THANK YOU, SUSAN. AND THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THE ENERGY THIS
MORNING ON A RAINY SEATTLE
MORNING. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
ALL RIGHT, NOW THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED. WE'LL PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS, AND AS ACTING
DIRECTOR PHAM AND MARK
ELLERBROOK WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE JOIN US AT THE TABLE,
I'LL SAY A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
>> CHAIR, WE NEED TO READ THE
AGENDA ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE. APPOINTMENT
OF QUYNH PHAM AS DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 31st, 2029.
>> THE ITEM HAS BEEN READ INTO
THE RECORD, NOW I'LL SAY MY
REMARKS AND TURN IT OVER TO THE
TABLE. MAYOR KATIE WILSON H█AS
APPOINTED QUYNH PHAM AS THE
ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS MEETING IS THE FIRST OF
TWO. WE USUALLY DO TWO MEETINGS
FOR APPOINTMENTS AS PART OF THE
APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR HER TO
BECOME THE DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. I
GET THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH
DIRECTOR, ACTING DIRECTOR PHAM
AS PART OF OUR REGULAR CHECK-INS
AND I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE GOTTEN
TO KNOW YOU IN THIS TIME. AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW
YOU EVEN BETTER AS THIS PROCESS
GOES ON, AND AS WE CONTINUE TO
WORK TOGETHER. TODAY THE
MAYOR'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
OPERATIONS, MARK ELLERBROOK,
WILL BE INTRODUCING, AND PRESENT
ACTING DIRECTOR PHAM.
COLLEAGUES, YOU'LL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS
TODAY, AND ALSO MY OFFICE SENT
OUT AN EMAIL TO YOUR OFFICES
LAST WEEK ASKING YOU TO PROVIDE
WRITTEN QUESTIONS FOR HER TO
ANSWER, AND SHE WILL BE
RESPONDING TO BEFORE OUR NEXT
MEETING, WHICH WILL BE ON THE
13th. SO LET'S GET STARTED WITH
HER INTRODUCTION. INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES FOR THE RECORD, AND
YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> GOOD MORNING. MARK
ELLERBROOK, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
CITY OPERATIONS IN MAYOR
WILSON'S OFFICE. GOOD SEEING
ALL OF YOU THIS MORNING. THANKS
VERY MUCH, COUNCIL, COMMITTEE
CHAIR RIVERA, AND COUNCILMEMBERS
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND FOSTER AND
COUNCILMEMBERS LIN AND RINCK. I
ALMOST FEEL LIKE I DON'T REALLY
NEED TO SAY A LOT TO INTRODUCE
QUYNH THIS MORNING, BUT IT IS MY
PLEASURE TO BE HERE. I ALSO
WANTED TO ADD AN ASIDE TO TWO
PEOPLE I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG
TIME. SUE, AND MIKO, TWO PEOPLE
WHO ARE NOT NOBODIES ANYMORE IN
OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S GOOD TO SEE
YOU. I'M PLEASED ON THE 35th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS TO INTRODUCE MAYOR
WILSON'S NOMINEE FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
QUYNH PHAM THIS MORNING. AS
YOU'VE CLEARLY HEARD FROM ALL
THE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, SHE
HAS DEEP COMMUNITY ROOTS AND
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, SPECIFICALLY IN
LITTLE SAIGON, BUT ALSO
THROUGHOUT, AS YOU HEARD FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS. SHE ALSO HAS
STRONG EXECUTIVE PUBLIC
LEADERSHIP. SOMETHING THAT I
THINK IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN YOU
LEAD A DEPARTMENT, ONE THAT HAS
SUCH STRONG CONNECTIONS TO
COMMUNITY. QUYNH HAS SERVED AS A
COMMUNITY LEADER FOR 14 YEARS AS
A LEADER OF A LOCAL NONPROFIT,
SHAPING LOCAL POLICY, WORKING
WITH SOUTHEAST ASIAN ARTISTS AND
CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS, AS WELL
AS INCREASING INVESTMENT IN
BIPOCK COMMUNITIES. SHE HAS
SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF LITTLE
SAIGON, WHICH IS A KEY PARTNER
WITH THE CITY AND A LOT OF
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONNECTIONS
WE'RE WORKING ON WITH THAT
COMMUNITY. SOMETHING THAT YOU
MAY NOT KNOW, WHICH I ACTUALLY
WAS READING, WHICH IS GREAT, WAS
THAT QUYNH ACTUALLY HAS A UNIQUE
PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. SHE
WAS PART OF THE INAUGURAL COHORT
OF THE PEOPLE'S ACADEMY FOR
PEOPLE'S ENGAGEMENT, OR
P.A.S.E. TO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE
INAUGURAL CLASS NOW BE THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
DIRECTOR, FEELS LIKE A CIRCLE
COMING ALL THE WAY AROUND. SO
I'M EXCITED FOR THAT. SHE
BRINGS A CLEAR BELIEF THAT WHEN
RESIDENTS AND LOCAL LEADERS
SHAPE POLICY AND INVESTMENT, THE
OUTCOMES ARE EQUITABLE, AND
LASTING, AND ALIGNS STRONGLY
WITH MAYOR WILSON'S VERSION,
THAT SEATTLE IS A PLACE WHERE
ANYONE OF ANY BACKGROUND HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE CITY.
QUYNH IS A FIRST GENERATION
IMMIGRANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SHE'S A DAUGHTER OF SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS, AND SHE'S THE
MOTHER OF TWO. UNDER QUYNH'S
LEADERSHIP, MAYOR WILSON IS
CONFIDENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS WILL CONTINUE TO
STRENGTHEN AND THE TRUST BETWEEN
COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT AND
DELIVER REAL IMPACT ACROSS
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I
THINK WITH THAT, I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR HER
CONFIRMATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO THE CONVERSATION WE WILL HAVE
THIS MORNING. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. ELLERBROOK.
ACTING DIRECTOR PHAM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARK, FOR
THE INTRODUCTION. AND THANK YOU
COMMITTEE CHAIR RIVERA FOR
HAVING ME BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE
TODAY, AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR BEING HERE. A
VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY
FRIENDS, HUSBAND, AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP THIS
MORNING TO SUPPORT ME ON THIS
RAINY DAY. IT'S AN HONOR I DO
NOT TAKE LIGHTLY TO HAVE PEOPLE
COME HERE EARLY IN THEIR DAY TO
RALLY FOR ME. LIKE, WOW. I THINK
THEIR GOAL WAS TO MAKE ME CRY,
AND I THINK YOU'VE KIND OF
SUCCEEDED, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY
TO HOLD THE TEARS BACK. SO
AGAIN, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS QUYNH PHAM, SHE/HER.
I AM A PROUD FIRST GENERATION
IMMIGRANT FROM VIETNAM WHO GREW
UP IN KENT, AND WAS RAISED BY
SEATTLE. MY JOURNEY IS DEFINED
BY THE PLACES THAT I CALL HOME.
SOME DISTINCT. SOME OVERLAPPING,
BUT ALL CRITICAL TO HOW I MOVE
IN THE WORLD TODAY. SOME OF MY
MOST VIVID MEMORIES ARE FROM
WEEKENDS I SPENT TOOKING THE
METRO 150 BUS ROUTE WITH MY
GRANDMOTHER TO THE CHINATOWN
DISTRICT FROM KENT. I CAN STILL
FEEL THE COOLERS ON MY FACE, OR
THE LAMB SEAFOOD, AS I MAKE A B
LINE FOR THE SNACK AISLE. SOME
OF MY FAVORITE SNACKS WERE THE
RICE JELLIES WITH THE STICKERS
IN THEM. AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING,
WE'D STOP AT THE VIDEO STORE
FOR THE LATEST PARIS BY NIGHT
PRODUCTION AND GRAB SOME BUN MES
AT THE DELI. FOR US, THIS
WASN'T JUST A SHOPPING TRIP. WE
WERE BUILDING COMMUNITY. MY
GRANDMA HAD A GREETING FOR
EVERYONE, AND WE GOT TO KNOW
MANY OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS BY
NAME. THESE ALL-DAY ADVENTURES
SHOWED ME WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR
WHEN A NEIGHBORHOOD TRULY
BELONGS TO ITS PEOPLE. AS MY
FAMILY GAINED MORE MOBILITY, WE
BEGAN TO EXPLORE SEATTLE AS
TOURISTS. EVERY TIME MY PARENTS
HAD TO TAKE OFF FROM RUNNING
THEIR BUSINESS. I ALWAYS KNEW
THE CITY WAS SPECIAL, BUT THAT
DIDN'T REALLY CLICK UNTIL I
BEGAN, WORKING ON THE GROUND. I
REALIZED IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT
THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE OR THE
BUILDINGS, IT WAS BY THE SHARED
COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO
HOLD THOSE SPACES TOGETHER.
TODAY AS A MOM OF TWO TODDLERS
OF MIXED CULTURES I SEE HOW
CHALLENGING IT IS TO UPHOLD AND
PASS DOWN OUR TRADITIONS. IT
REQUIRES A VILLAGE TO DO IT. AND
THESE ARE REALLY ESSENTIAL TO
HELPING MANY OF US ESTABLISH OUR
COMMUNITIES. MY MOST RECENT
YEARS WERE SPENT IN THE CID, AS
YOU HEARD. THE COMMUNITY IS MY
EXTENDED FAMILY, IT'S WHERE I
LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF
INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVISM, AND
THE DELICATE BALANCE OF
PRESERVING CULTURE WHILE
NAVIGATING GROWTH. I LEARNED
THAT ELEVATING THE NEEDS OF MY
OWN COMMUNITY HELPED AS A
BLUEPRINT FOR ALL COMMUNITIES.
FOR THE PAST DECADE, THE PUBLIC
PERCEPTION OF LITTLE SAIGON HAS
BEEN DEFINED BY A DECLINE IN
SAFETY AND A LOSS OF ECONOMIC
VITALITY. WHILE THE NEIGHBORHOOD
IS HOME TO ALMOST 100 BUSINESS,
ALMOST ABOUT 25% OF THOSE
STOREFRONTS CURRENTLY SIT
VACANT. WE'VE LOST FOOD
BUSINESSES, LIKE SATURDAY DELI
AND FRESH BUBBLE TEA OR LACA.
THE CHALLENGES FACING THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTINUE TO
COMPOUND. LARGELY BECAUSE WE
LACK THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND US.
TO AN INCREASED CONCENTRATION OF
DRUG USE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ISSUES. FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON
BEGAN AS A SMALL GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS DETERMINED TO
RECLAIM THE PRESENT AND FUTURE
OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I STARTED
BY BRINGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TOGETHER AROUND SINGLE CAUSES,
SUCH AS ADVOCATING FOR A
NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. FROM THERE,
WE ORGANIZED EVENTS FUNDED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
SMALL SPARKS GRANT. THIS SERVED
AS A PLATFORM TO GATHER
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND RESIDENTS
ABOUT LOCAL CHANGES. THIS
FEEDBACK CREATED THE SPACE TO
CULTIVATE A COLLECTIVE VISION
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I
COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO TRANSLATE THAT VISION
INTO A STRATEGIC PLAN. FOCUSED
ON THE CAPACITY TO MAKING IT A
REALITY. THIS EVOLUTION LED TO
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LITTLE
SAIGON AS A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION, WHICH THEN
CONCEIVED THE LANDMARK PROJECT,
A VISION FOR A DEDICATED
CULTURAL CENTER. OUR FOCUS WAS
NEVER NOT MERELY TO FUND THE
PROJECT, IT WAS TO ENSURE THAT
THE COMMUNITY OWNED AND
CONTROLLED IT. ULTIMATELY THIS
WORK WAS ALSO NEVER JUST ABOUT
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS ABOUT
CREATING A MODEL FOR OTHERS.
THIS COMMITMENT LED ME TO BECOME
INVOLVED IN THE SEATTLE'S
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE, WHERE I SERVED ON
THE INTERIM ADVISORY BOARD TO
HELP DEVELOP THE FUNDING
STRUCTURES, AND POLICIES THAT
SUPPORT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
CITYWIDE. IT HAS BEEN A LONG
ROAD, BUT THE DEFINING STRATEGY
WAS SUSTAINED PERSISTENT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, COUPLED
WITH A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I RELIED ON
CITY GRANTS AND PROGRAMS,
ALONGSIDE INVESTMENTS FROM
INDIVIDUALS WHO TRULY CARED AS
DEEPLY ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD AS I DID. WHILE THE
FUNDING WAS ESSENTIAL TO MOVE
THIS WORK FORWARD, MONEY ALONE
WAS NOT ENOUGH. SUCCESS REQUIRED
TRUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN
NEIGHBORS AND LEADERS, SHARED
STRATEGY AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT
REQUIRED A GENUINE WILLINGNESS
FROM OUR CITY PARTNERS TO
ELEVATE AND PLACED VALUE ON
LIVED COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE. AND
THAT IS ONE KEY VALUE OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. WE
INVEST IN THE POWER OF
COMMUNITIES TO FORGE THEIR OWN
SOLUTIONS. WE TRUST THOSE
CLOSEST TO A CHALLENGE TO KNOW
WHAT WORKS, AND OUR ROLE IS TO
SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITY-LED
SOLUTIONS. THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, DON, WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 1991 DURING A
RAPID PERIOD OF GROWTH. AT THE
TIME, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WERE
NAVIGATING IMMENSE CHANGE AND
GROWING FRUSTRATION THAT THE
CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS
WAS BEING OVERLOOKED IN FAVOR OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PEOPLE
PUSHED FOR A DIFFERENT
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT.
THEY WANTED A SYSTEM THAT
INVITED THEM INTO
DECISION-MAKING. ONE THAT SAW
COMMUNITIES AS PARTNERS, NOT
OBSTACLES. FOR THE LAST 35
YEARS, D.O.N. HAS BRIDGED THE
GAP BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND CITY
HALL WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND, AWARDING 2.1
MILLION TO 112 COMMUNITY DRIVEN
PROJECTS ACROSS SEATTLE IN 2025.
PRESERVING AND LANDMARKING
SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL ASSETS
THROUGH HISTORIC PRESERVATION,
AND LEVERAGING PEA PATCH GARDENS
TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND INCREASE
FOOD SECURITY BY PROVIDING 768
MULTICULTURAL FAMILIES WITH
ASSISTANCE, GENERATING VOLUNTEER
HOURS AND DONATING 41,000 POUNDS
OF PRODUCE TO LOCAL MEAL
PROGRAMS. D.O.N.HAS ALSO
EXPANDED REACH THROUGH COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR AND OUR
AWARD WINNING EQUITY ENGAGEMENT
ADVISERS FOR EXCEPTIONAL
LEADERSHIP IN DISMANTLING
BARRIERS. WE HAVE ALSO STAFFED
AND RESOURCED THE INDIGENOUS
ADVISORY COUNCIL, SEATTLE
RENTERS COMMISSION, AND
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMMISSION
TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE
POLICYMAKING PROCESS. AND
LASTLY, WE WILL INVESTED IN
COMMUNITY PAST BUILDING TO
ADDRESS, DEVELOP, AND IMPLEMENT
NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL COMMUNITY
SAFETY INITIATIVES. ON THE
SURFACE, THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE A
MASH UP OF PROGRAMS, BUT THEY
SHARE A COMMON THREAD. THEY WERE
BORN FROM COMMUNITY NEED. THEY
EXIST BECAUSE THE CITY
RECOGNIZED WE CANNOT ACHIEVE OUR
GOALS WITHOUT BUILDING TRUST AND
SHARING RESOURCES. THESE ARE
JUST A FEW OF THE ESSENTIALLY
PROGRAMS DON OFFERS, ALTHOUGH
THE DEPARTMENT'S VISION IS
CLEAR, D.O.N. MUST CONTINUE TO
EVOLVE IF WE ARE TRULY TO SERVE
SEATTLE. AND I WANT TO TAKE THE
LESSONS I'VE LEARNED ON THE
GROUND, STRENGTHENING ONE
SPECIAL PLACE WHILE LIFTING UP
OTHERS AND APPLY THEM TO EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR CITY. TO
SCALE THESE EFFORTS, I BELIEVE
IN HOLDING A BIG VISION, BUT I
AM EVEN MORE INVESTED IN THE
SMALL INTENTIONAL STEPS TO GET
US THERE. A NEIGHBORHOOD CANNOT
THRIVE THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF A
SINGLE PERSON OR ENTITY. IT
REQUIRES EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO
FIND THEIR ROLE AND TAKE ACTION.
I LEARNED THIS QUOTE FROM
COMMUNITY. IT GOES. [SPEAKING
NON-ENGLISH] WHICH TRANSLATES TO
MEAN A SINGLE TREE IS TOO SMALL
TO FORM A MOUNTAIN. ONLY WHEN
MANY TREES GROW TOGETHER CAN
THEY FORM A TOWERING PEAK. SO
HERE I AM, AS ACTING DIRECTOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
MY VISION FOR THIS TERM FOCUSES
REALLY ON THREE KEY PILLARS.
FIRST IS TO STRENGTHEN
RELATIONSHIPS BY BUILDING DEEPER
TRUST WITHIN D.O.N. ACROSS CITY
DEPARTMENTS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS,
THIS COUNCIL, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE COMMUNITY.
SECOND IS ALIGNING OUR
COLLABORATION, ENSURING THAT
D.O.N. OUR PARTNERS AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING IN SYNC
RATHER THAN IN SILOS. AND LASTLY
TO ENSURE THAT OUR STRATEGIES
MATCH OUR CURRENT PRIORITIES. TO
ESTABLISH D.O.N. AS THE CENTRAL
HUB FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACROSS
THE CITY, OUR GOAL MUST BE TO
BRING PEOPLE CLOSER TO THESE
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF POWER. WE
WILL DO THIS THROUGH INCREMENTAL
CHANGE. I BELIEVE D.O.N. HAS THE
RIGHT PEOPLE CAPABLE TO BUILD A
STRATEGIC PLANS, ONE THAT BUILDS
ON THE LAST 35 YEARS OF
PROGRESS, AND FORGES AHEAD TO
THE NEXT 35 YEARS. SO THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR TIME. I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF
D.O.N. WITH YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU, ACTING DIRECTOR,
AND THANK YOU MARK, FOR BEING
HERE, AND PRESENTING THE
MAYOR'S CHOICE FOR DIRECTOR OF
D.O.N.. COLLEAGUES, AS I SAID
EARLIER, WE'RE GOING TO -- MY
OFFICE IS COLLECTING QUESTIONS
FROM YOUR OFFICES SO WE CAN SEND
TO ACTING DIRECTOR PHAM AS PART
OF THIS PROCESS THAT SHE CAN
RESPOND TO. BUT IF YOU HAVE
INITIAL QUESTIONS, OR COMMENTS,
HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE NOW, BEFORE
THEN. AND I KNOW SHE'D BE HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR HEAR
ANY COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH, CHAIR,
RIVERA. I JUST WANT TO SAY A
QUICK COMMENT THAT IT'S SUCH AN
ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO GET TO HEAR
YOUR VISION AND TO GET TO HAVE
YOU AS ACTING DIRECTOR, AND I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION TODAY, AND THE
FOLLOW-UP. AND JUST SO MUCH OF
WHAT I HEARD TODAY FROM FOLKS AT
PUBLIC COMMENT ECHOED WHAT I
KNOW TO BE TRUE ABOUT YOU, AS
SOMEBODY WHO HAS SUCH A STRONG
VISION, SUCH DETERMINATION, AND
SOMEHOW STILL MANAGES TO BE A
COLLABORATOR, AND I JUST REALLY
WANTED TO SAY THAT I REMEMBER
WHEN WE MET, LIKE ALMOST A
DECADE AGO WHEN YOU WERE, I
THINK, COMING IN AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON. SO IT WAS JUST REALLY
SPECIAL TO ME TO KIND OF HAVE --
I HAD A LITTLE MOMENT TODAY. I
WAS LIKE, HUH, LOOK AT US NOW.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
CONVERSATION AND I SO APPRECIATE
YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER THE LAST
DECADE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE YEARS
TO COME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I AM JUST
SO EXCITED ABOUT YOU COMING
FORWARD IN THIS ROLE, AND SO I
WANT TO SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST,
AS WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP, ACROSS THE PAST
DECADE OF WORK IN COMMUNITY. I
KNOW OUR OFFICE HAS HAD THE
IMMENSE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
WITH YOU IN YOUR ROLE FOR LITTLE
SAIGON, AND I JUST WANT TO
AGAIN, STATE MY APPRECIATION FOR
ALSO YOUR DEDICATION TO EQUITY,
PEOPLE, AND COMMUNITIES. IT IS
REALLY OUTSTANDING AND
INCREDIBLE. SO REALLY EXCITED
THAT YOUR APPOINTMENT IS COMING
BEFORE US. AND I DO HAVE A
COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR TODAY. I
KNOW THIS WILL BE PART OF THE
PROCESS, I'M EXCITED TO LEARN,
AGAIN, MORE ABOUT YOUR VISION
FOR THE FUTURE OF THE
DEPARTMENT. BUT I WANTED TO ASK
A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR
VISION ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY
AND CAPACITY PROGRAMMING FOR
D.O.N.
>> GREAT QUESTION. VISION IS
STILL EVOLVING. BUT AS YOU CAN
TELL, AND FROM OUR WORK
TOGETHER, FOR SOME REASON I
ALWAYS GET PULLED INTO COMMUNITY
SAFETY CONVERSATIONS. AND I'M
ACTUALLY -- I'M GLAD FOR IT.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF ENGAGING WITH
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AROUND
WHAT SAFETY MEANS TO THEM.
BECAUSE IT MEANS SO MANY
DIFFERENT THINGS TO SO MANY
DIFFERENT PEOPLE. AND A SAFE AND
HEALTHY COMMUNITY INCLUDES
VARIOUS COMPONENTS, ESPECIALLY
WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING AN
ECOSYSTEM FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD. I
THINK WE NEED A LOT OF DIFFERENT
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, BUSINESSES,
AND RESIDENTS TO PLAY A PART IN
KEEPING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES SAFE. AND SO IN
D.O.N.'S ROLE, WE'RE REALLY
HERE TO HELP BUILD THE CAPACITY
OF COMMUNITY TO DEFINE WHAT
SAFETY MEANS FOR THEM, AND BRING
IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND
PARTNERS TO MAKE THAT VISION
HAPPEN. SO REALLY, WE'RE HERE
TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCE AND TO
SUPPORT AND THE GUIDANCE, BUT I
THINK THE COMMUNITY ALREADY
KNOWS WHAT THEY NEED, AND WHAT
THEY WANT WHEN IT COMES TO
SAFETY.
>> REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I
ELEVATE THAT QUESTION JUST
BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK AND WITH
THE PHODEP INITIATIVE. I KNOW MY
OFFICE GOT TO JOIN ALONGSIDE YOU
ALL, WE'RE RUNNING AN
INCREDIBLE WORKSHOP IN
COMMUNITY, AND REALLY EXCITED TO
UNPACK THAT AND APPRECIATE THAT
ANSWER. IT'S ALSO NEWS TO ME
THAT YOU WERE A PART OF THE
FIRST COHORT OF P.A.C.E. BECAUSE
I DID PREP A QUESTION ON
P.A.C.E., WHICH MAKES THIS MORE
IMPACTFUL. HOW DO YOU SEE A
VISION OR A FUTURE FOR THAT
PROGRAM? ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT
YOU WERE A PART OF THE FIRST
CLASS?
>> YEAH, IT ALSO DOESN'T DAWN
ON ME THAT THIS HAS BECOME FULL
CIRCLE. LIKE I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY
REFLECTED THAT MUCH ON IT. BUT
THINKING THROUGH IT, THERE'S SO
MANY GOOD THINGS WHEN YOU BUILD
BETTER UNDERSTANDING, IN
LEARNING HOW OUR SYSTEMS WORK
AND WHO THE PEOPLE ARE BEHIND
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
DECISION MAKERS. AND BEING ABLE
TO DO THAT EARLIER ON IN MY
CAREER WAS A REALLY BIG VALUE
BECAUSE THAT HELPED GUIDE HOW I
UNDERSTOOD MY RELATIONSHIP TO MY
RIGHTS AND HOW TO WORK WITH
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW TO
NAVIGATE CERTAIN PORTALS. AND SO
I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE FOLKS, I'VE
ACTUALLY, IN MY PREVIOUS ROLE,
I'VE ENCOURAGED MY STAFF TO BE
PART OF P.A.C.E. AND THEY'VE
ALL REALLY ENJOYED IT, AND I
KNOW THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO
EVOLVE EVERY DAY, AND I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY TEAM TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE I
THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
GROW AND EXPAND IT, AND BRING
MORE PEOPLE INTO UNDERSTANDING
HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AND HOW TO
ACCESS IT BETTER. YEAH.
>> REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S
A TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT
PROGRAM. AND NOW MORE THAN EVER,
IT FEELS LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY
AND IMPORTANCE TO REALLY HAVE
COMMUNITY CONNECT WITH CITY HALL
IS JUST TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, AND
EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR
VISION AS WE GO THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. COUNCILMEMBER LIN, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND I
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT
THIS POINT, BUT JUST WANTED TO
SAY HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS
APPOINTMENT. MY APOLOGIES FOR
NOT BEING ABLE TO BE THERE IN
PERSON WITH YOU ALL. AND JUST ON
THAT LAST POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY
BUILDING, YOU KNOW, I'M SUPER
EXCITED FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
THAT REGARD. IT IS DIFFICULT TO
WORK ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS AND TO WORK WITH ALL
THE BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND
YOU'VE SHOWN YOUR SKILLS AND
ABILITY TO DO THAT, TO TRULY
BUILD COMMUNITY TO BUILD THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS, WHICH I THINK ARE
ESSENTIAL, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
GETTING TO WORK TOGETHER. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THEIR, CHAIR, AND MY
APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO
BE THERE IN-PERSON TODAY. BUT
THANK YOU, ACTING DIRECTOR. I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
PRESENTATION, AND OBVIOUSLY WE
GOT TO WORK TOGETHER A LITTLE
BIT, YOU KNOW, SAFETY CONCERNS,
AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO INCLUDE
MORE COMMUNITY VOICES CONNECTED
TO THE CITY. AND I ACTUALLY, I
DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. JUST
RATHER A QUICK COMMENT. AS I,
FOR D.O.N. DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
A GREAT RESOURCE FOR THE
COMMUNITY TO INCLUDE FOLKS THAT
DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO, YOU
KNOW, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
RECREATION, OR SEATTLE
DEPARTMENTS OF REC. AND D.O.N. I
ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IS THE WOMB OF
SEATTLE. THE WORD OF MOUTH.
WHERE IT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE A
GROUP THAT IS ORGANIZED, BUT
IT'S LIKE, HEY, WE DO DOOR TO
DOOR, WE'RE CONNECTED WITH
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. JUST YOUR
COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING THAT. I
KNOW YOU HAVE THAT COMMITMENT,
CONTINUING THAT WORK TO CONNECT
THOSE FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE THE
ACCESS, THAT TRADITIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS OR COMMUNITY
GROUPS, OR EVEN JUST
NON-PROPERTIES, JUST YOUR
EVERYDAY PERSON CAN FEEL LIKE
THEY'RE EMPOWERED TO HAVE A
VOICE WHEN THEY'RE SHAPING
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, I BELIEVE
IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I KNOW
YOU BELIEVE THAT AS WELL. SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AS WELL, AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, THEN
I'LL JUST ADD I AM SO LOOKING
FORWARD TO PART TWO OF YOUR
CONFIRMATION, AND ALL THE GREAT
WORK -- I WANT TO, THAT THE
DEPARTMENT DOES, AND I SEE A LOT
OF DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD
STAFF HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, SO I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN
SUPPORT OF ACTING DIRECTOR PHAM,
AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO IN
COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW HOW GRATEFUL
I AM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE
DONE TOGETHER SINCE I'VE BEEN
HERE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR
THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN ALL OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE
CITY, INCLUDING ALL OUR
DISTRICTS, INCLUDING THE
DISTRICT I REPRESENT. AND I WANT
TO SAY, BECAUSE IT CAME UP, THE
PHODEP RELATIONSHIP, THAT CAME
OUT OF D.O.N.AND LITTLE SAIGON.
IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY LED PUBLIC
SAFETY EFFORTS, AS ACTING
DIRECTER PHAM SAID EARLIER. AND
IT'S REALLY SUCH A KEY PIECE TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO PUBLIC
SAFETY EFFORTS ACROSS THE CITY,
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY EFFORTS WHEN WE INVOLVE
COMMUNITY HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES.
AND SO I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING
THAT YOU, DIRECTOR, HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON IN YOUR ROLE, WHEN
YOU WERE AT FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON, AND SOMETHING YOU'LL
CONTINUE TO DO NOW, NOT JUST FOR
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY AS
WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO
YOUR STAFF. THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
THE MAY 13th, PART TWO OF YOUR
CONFIRMATION. THANKSFOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANKS, SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
COLLEAGUES. TO MY FINAL HERE,
PART OF MY SCRIPT. ALL RIGHT.
SINCE THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, THIS CONCLUDES THE
APRIL 22nd MEETING OF THE
LIBRARY'S EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE. OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING, AS I
SAID EARLIER, IS SCHEDULED FOR
MAY 13th AT 9:30 A.M., WHERE WE
WILL TAKE UP THE SECOND PART OF
ACTING DIRECTOR PHAM'S
CONFIRMATION. IF THERE'S NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING
WILL ADJOURN. ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NOTHING ELSE, IT IS TIME 10:15