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Alright! We're about to start round 2 of the Select Budget Committee here in Seattle.
Again, tips are always appreciated!
Venmo: houstonace
CashApp: $Archstar
Again, tips are always appreciated!
Venmo: houstonace
CashApp: $Archstar
This is expected to be part 1 of 2 by the chair (CM Mosqueda). First we're going to get into testimony: people get 1 minute today.
First comment in favor of JumpStart. (technically you can comment on the morning's discussion now but this feels a bit behind)
Second comment to defund the 50%. If you have a drink, movement was said, have a sip!
Second comment to defund the 50%. If you have a drink, movement was said, have a sip!
Our first comment today about how Mayor Jenny tear gassed her constituents.
Essentially all the comments are:
- pass progressive taxation
- defund the police by minimum 50%
also three more sips for "movement"
- pass progressive taxation
- defund the police by minimum 50%
also three more sips for "movement"
Another comment about tear gas, that it's a international war crime.
we've had two comments now about operation sack lunch and an ask to continue funding the program.
(which I am in full support)
(which I am in full support)
One comment in support of the Central Area plan to create 1,000 affordable housing units.
(which also, yes)
(which also, yes)
Comment re: SPD funding and Mayor Jenny
"She knows, the demands have been out there."
*z snap*
"She knows, the demands have been out there."
*z snap*
A number of comments have been a request for removing the sunset clause in the JumpStart legislation.
Multiple comments calling Mayor Jenny's 5% cut "insulting"
More comments in favor of Tax Amazon, but a smattering of JumpStart supporters. Most of the JumpStart supporters are low-income housing providers, which is somewhat telling.
...community ownership of land promoted
Comment asking why we aren't discussing impeaching the mayor more.
(Good point)
(Good point)
Seattle Coalition of Indians in support of King County Equity Now and their demands.
Another comment from a group supporting KC Equity Now (I missed the name)
Another comment from a group supporting KC Equity Now (I missed the name)
Alright discussion!
Mosqueda making clear the demands from community
- Reduce the budget of SPD by 50%
- Invest in community
Inquests and committee meetings will include looking at 911 call data and identifying calls that could be done by crisis team.
Mosqueda making clear the demands from community
- Reduce the budget of SPD by 50%
- Invest in community
Inquests and committee meetings will include looking at 911 call data and identifying calls that could be done by crisis team.
I can't write it all, but CM Mosqueda is saying some really excellent things around investing in community-based models.
ok presentation time!
The demonstrations cost $6.3 million in overtime hours. SPD budgets $30 in overtime hours for the year.
CM Herbold requesting the cost per employee in overtime, which is possible per staff.
Clarifying point that the current slide showing crowd control does not include things like tasers which are non-lethal but are not typically used for crowd control.
Council Pres Gonzalez asking some tough questions about what all does SPD have access to in terms of weapons and vehicles that they *could* use in controlling a crowd.
(Sawant started talking and my mind went back to the crispy Sprite I has this past weekend. Mmm.)
"Other cities and movements-"
drink!
Essentially she's saying that Seattle has been a leader in banning weapons like tear gas and should continue in removing the weapons they can use against what are non-violent and legal protests by Seattle citizens.
drink!
Essentially she's saying that Seattle has been a leader in banning weapons like tear gas and should continue in removing the weapons they can use against what are non-violent and legal protests by Seattle citizens.
(CM Sawant making some really good points about the discussion in general.)
Makes a point that the 6.3MM in overtime for the current protests is more than the entire budget for the Equitable Development Initiative in a year.
Makes a point that the 6.3MM in overtime for the current protests is more than the entire budget for the Equitable Development Initiative in a year.
CM Morales asking questions around a more line item version of all costs related to the protests, including standard salary.
Question of when the analysis will be done for the 2020 expenditures.
Staff unsure b/c they don't oversee accounting.
Staff unsure b/c they don't oversee accounting.
(CP Gonzalez is not pleased)
CM Gonzalez getting up back on schedule. We'll be going through the remainder of this presentation and then asking questions after as there is another presentation we still need to go through.
Now we're going to Overtime and Emphasis Patrols money. Seems like that number doubled from 1.1MM in 2018 to 2.5MM in 2019
then talked about SROs (which Seattle Public Schools just voted to not continue) as well as the Officer Hiring Freeze (due to COVID). For the latter, the hiring freeze would be a savings of 18MM.
CM Herbold question about the 8MM budgeted for events this year and what has been used.
(seems like that 1.1 to 2.5 increase was all money for sweeps)
CP Gonzalez saying that it's important to separate bodies of work related to health and crisis that do not need an armed officer response.
If I just heard that correctly, over $8.4 million dollars are spent on sweeps.
Just for a little back of the envelope math:
that's 28 fully subsidized housing units at 300k or if you used the money to support providers (which usually triples the gain) 84 units.
Just for a little back of the envelope math:
that's 28 fully subsidized housing units at 300k or if you used the money to support providers (which usually triples the gain) 84 units.
excellent question from CM Morales: if there are only 10 FTE under the nav team, why do 50 officers show up during a sweep?
Staff answer: "we'll get back to you on that." 
CM Sawant - "just stop the sweeps"
CM Sawant finds the hiring freeze dubious and murky and does not believe costs will be saved through overtime.
(which is accurate; if you have less police responding in the same manner as protests continue, it will just cost more money)
(which is accurate; if you have less police responding in the same manner as protests continue, it will just cost more money)
(Could you imagine if we just canceled all overtime pay like LA did?)
Angela from central staff confirming that there *is* a hiring freeze. A 50% reduction in officers (per staff) would be 1,036 FTE reduction. (holy crap!)
According to CM Herbold, the budget for hiring officers for the entire year has been fully expended already anyway. (I'm assuming that means no money could actually be saved in hiring freezes this year)
We are now about to move over to CBO presenation, but first some questions from CM Strauss.
...
jk he's just saying thank you to the staff (which is nice)
...
jk he's just saying thank you to the staff (which is nice)
CM Pedersen saying thank you and also suggesting of using a 311 system for non-emergencies.
(do we not have 311 here?)
(do we not have 311 here?)
CM Sawant calling for a purge of all officers who have engaged in police violence right at the end of this first presentation.
and CM Mosqueda asking for a number on the amount the city has paid out in grievances against the SPD.
