Thread by @TheUrbanAce

D7's Budget town hall is happening this evening but I haven't seen the D4 on yet so...I'm gonna tweet it out right now!

#AceReporting on what is sure to be interesting. Let's see what priorities CM Pedersen has.

#SeattleProtests #SeaBudget2021

*skips all the intros*

Reverend Aaron Williams joined as the Co-Chair of the Community Police Commission. CM Pedersen asking him about his thoughts related to this moment.

Rev. Williams states the (SPD) contract negotiations have started as well as create a state agenda for the leg this year.

You can see the Commission's agenda for the state regarding police accountability here: seattle.gov/community-poli…

Please note that Mayor Durkan reduced the lobbying staff from 3.0 to 2.0 FTE for this upcoming long session.

CM Pedersen asking about the Defund SPD / $100MM investment. Rev. Williams wants to make clear the commission is divided on their thoughts around defunding SPD, but they do clearly support the $100MM because it gives a voice to community.

CM Pedersen asking Rev. Williams what Seattleites ("of all races") should do in their relationship with the police.

Rev. Williams saying that public safety isn't something that everyone associates with the police, but also that public safety shouldn't stop at just police.

States that the police are part of the community but that you can't disinvest in the police without investing in community." (in essence supporting non-police responses to issues)

The Reverend also notes the success of the CAHOOTS program in Oregon.

"We need to empower the community to come up with some of their own ideas."

"I don't think police officers were ever intended to be everything for all people."

CM Pedersen now asking Rev. Williams if there are any specifics he'd like to mention from the recommendations the CPC made last year related to the SPOG Contract Negotiations.

Rev.: asking for an independent technical advisor selected by the CPC/OPA/OIG to be at the table.

Rev. Williams noting that D4 needs to be an advocate for BIPOC communities so BIPOC communities can feel as safe as D4 communities do. (😬he almost said the quiet part out loud😬)

And that was that so now onto budget stuff.

CM Pedersen calls it a "thoughtful and responsible balanced budget."

Oh lol Ben Noble is the one giving the presentation.

This is a really good slide Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light are $2.8 billion of the $6 billion budget.

This is notable: the budget office expects pre-virus revenue won't be anticipated until 2023.

(I think we could fix that, but that's just me.)

Now talking mayor's priorities. Nothing surprising.

Ok, so as of this meeting yesterday, the Mayor:

1) has not named who is on her Task Force

2) has no funding source to continue the $100MM commitment to BIPOC communities.

Just so we're clear.
#DefundSPD #SeattleProtests

*skips rest of his presentation*

ok now questions!

First is around the increase in encampments. What and when will the new Navigation Team start? (from a person living in Ravenna)

Mentions moving of encampments. "A lot of people call those sweeps" (eye roll)

CM Pedersen thinks we need the Navigation Team.

"The consensus was that we should have another version of the Navigation Team without police officers-"
he then gets into the final vote that ended...

...the Navigation Team entirely.

"Unfortunately the Navigation Team has been temporarily defunded."

He hopes the interdepartmental team (Nav Team Mark II) is a success.

Also notes the lack of shelter space to keep social distancing.

"The solution is more permanent housing."

CM Pedersen does believe in a housing first approach, so at least that.

He thinks we need a city-led effort as opposed to depending on community orgs. Now talking tiny home villages. (THV)

"We are actually looking at adding a THV in the U District."

2nd Q: is there any aspect of policing you would want to defund?

CM Pedersen says yes, he wants to get rid of the ways police earn excess overtime and premium pay to reduce the costs of police officers.

Next Question is about the Sand Point Way project by Magnusson Park.

he says it's moving forward after compromises made during the 2020 Budget Rebalancing. Notes it's a benefit of district representation as he recognized the project was serving a largely BIPOC area.

Next Q is if the budget needs to be balanced.

Director Noble explaining that it must be, but we can create some debt for things (bonds) like the West Seattle Bridge. (Not for anything else)

(Seems like the City is really hoping for a Biden win so we can get more stimulus)

Next Q is about the outbreak around UW.

He's just sharing some information for testing and reminds students to wear masks. (he notes students will listen to parents more than him. I mean same.)

Next question is around measurable steps we can take to create an anti-racist police contract.

Say people need to mention it during every conversation around the budget, and specifically to others in the community, city reps, and state reps. (essentially pressure)

Next Q is who the CM has talked to related to the experiences of BIPOC Seattleites.

Is naming some prominent individuals, including Mrs. Beach. Also notes the Every Day Marchers and his experiences with them.

Next Q is if he'll condemn violence against protesters and support right to free speech?

Says yes and cites his co-sponsorship of a bill.

Next Q: can we restore budget related to Parks and Rec? Concern is around community centers.

CM Pedersen will look at it, but the only...

...option available is to increase property tax through the Metropolitan Park District.

Next Q related to how he is reducing displacement and gentrification.

CM Pedersen saying there's a disagreement with how to do it on the council. He's skeptical of a build all housing model.

(tldr he's a PHIMBY)

He's curious about the MHA and wants to see the data on it. (my take is he's going to push for higher fees so builders create it on site, which I am generally against for operation purposes.)

Last Q: why should the $100MM not come out of SPD's budget?

He wants to focus on the positive outcomes of effective policing and if there's money related to contract negotiation that's good. He states he voted against the tax, but it's there so it's fine for the Mayor to use it.

So essentially he doesn't want to depend on reductions of SPD to fund that $100MM.

Question around concerns around 911 response times. He wants to be he is concerned about it, but for police it's about things they should respond to.

And that was all the questions! So this thread is done and now on to CM Lewis' town hall~