Watching the Seattle District 6 Town Hall, Community Conversations on Race in D6 and Updates from Community Councils, with @CMDanStrauss . Scheduled to run from 5:00–6:30 PM. #d6townhall

Want to tune in? It's on YouTube:
#d6townhall

It's 12 past the hour and I'm still waiting for the #d6townhall to start

And we're getting underway! Remember to wash your hands, says @CMDanStrauss, who touts 500+ RSVPs and 200+ concurrent users and 150+ questions received. #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss talking about the challenges of making information accessible to constituents during #Covid19seattle. Had hoped to create transit lanes, fix potholes, fix up parks, but priorities suddenly shifted. Received nearly 2000 letters per day in June. #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss encouraging empathy in "tough conversations" on issues such as racial equity. Also encouraging a diversity of perspectives. #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss talking about the work currently in progress. "Not talking about decreasing public safety." Defunding should not be a scary process; all residents should be able to call 911 and get an "appropriate" first responder. Change does take time. #d6townhall

"Childcare near you" is a childcare permitting bill that @CMDanStrauss has been working on since January. Streamlining permitting for childcare businesses to encourage their development. #d6townhall

Tonight's conversation:
1. District council presentations and Q&A
2. Community conversation about race from District 6 residents.
3. Q&A: answering submitted questions.
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Ballard is the first District Council to speak; the DCs are presenting in alphabetical order. Angie Gerrald presenting. #d6townhall

Gerrald is the VP of Ballard District Council, which includes numerous community councils and business associations.
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Question from Gerrald re police reform: what do police funding changes mean in the next 6–12 months, 2–3 years? How to measure success?
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. @CMDanStrauss emphasizes moving at a pace to let us scale up service delivery with a continuance of operation. We want to ensure that every service provider is set up for success. Ballard's needs are different from other neighborhoods'; we have more soc serv needs
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School-to-prison pipeline not as big of a concern in Ballard as in other neighborhoods, says @CMDanStrauss . Tomorrow, expect a plan from city council about moving forward. #d6townhall

Gerrard: What does "community-based organizations" mean in the context of Ballard? #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss asks for residents to reach out and provide info about needed services, e.g., mental health crisis interventions. Sometimes people will call police to intervene when there is no proper police response. #d6townhall

We already have programs like HealthOne and DESC, similar to CAHOOTS (sp?) model used in Eugene, Oregon, that do not require officer referrals to receive services like Seattle's past programs have done. Response teams should be "hard wired" into 911 — @CMDanStrauss #d6townhall

Fremont District Council is next up with some tech glitching. #d6townhall

Fremont Neighborhood Council question: What specific measures, and on what timeline, to ensure that reallocation from police funding will address structural racism, public safety, drug rehab, and housing for homeless?
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4 measures to move 911 call center out of SPD, creating framework for change, scaling down/up, and creating housing for all. Providing housing that allows people to come inside brings more stability for people with mental health problems — @CMDanStrauss #d6townhall

"Housing really stabilizes the issues that we're talking about" — @CMDanStrauss #d6townhall

At City Council, we've pushed Seattle PD discussions back by a week already. @CMDanStrauss invites comment on priorities. #d6townhall

Next Q from Fremont Neighborhood Council: How to increase cooperation with Seattle School District, other institutions in government post-pandemic? #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss talking about coordination between Washington's cities of multiple sizes to coordinate response. Also on regional transportation committee to make transit reliable post-pandemic. Continuing to talk to Seattle School District board members. #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss talking about building relationships, not fixating on news and social media headlines. #d6townhall

Next up: Green Lake Community Council. #d6townhall

Good news for Green Lake: community center is getting refurbished and is being replaced in 4–5 years. New center likely to go in where the old one was based on early outreach. #d6townhall

Green Lake Village, where PCC is located, will add a 3rd building. Will continue to add to density and use factors in Green Lake. "Transportation issue" in getting to the lake: lots of street and utility work in progress. ADA curbs, slower traffic, new lights. #d6townhall

Two new stoplights will "help with traffic" but may be a short-term frustration, notes the Green Lake Community Council rep #d6townhall

Green Lake is getting a turtle viewing area and a memorial to a citizen who drowned. Also, "floating islands" may be added as a habitat and water monitor solution. In addition, added wayfinding will help 911 emergency response. #d6townhall

Question from Green Lake: re transportation, we're not all near light rail — how do you see transit being handled after light rail expansion opens? What about bus expansion? #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss talking bus lines. Has been talking to @kcmetrobus to realign bus routes after nearby light rail opens. E line is a great route direct to downtown. Also need a way around the lake to Roosevelt and Northgate stations. #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss points out challenges to transit by the breadth and topography of the Green Lake area including Phinney Ridge. Will continue convos with @kcmetrobus for route realignment. #d6townhall

Next up: Phinney Ridge, Phinney District Council. "Phinney Ridge is on the way to everywhere." #d6townhall

Policing and public safety questions: we [in Phinney Ridge] are concerned about property crime on both sides of the hill and on top. Concerned about public safety. Please keep us in the conversation. #d6townhall

Local issues in Phinney Ridge: we have a healthy street closure in Green Lake and one in Golden Gardens. These are "major arterials" and their closure is "problematic." Questions about #StayHealthyStreets and #KeepMovingStreets potentially hurting mobility. #d6townhall

Question continues: what about a Bicycle Sundays program as an alternative to full-time street closures? Phinney Ridge org seeing a lot of e-mail about these. #d6townhall

Question continues: with Phinney Neighborhood Association, commitment to social justice and desire to be part of the conversation. Also, a traffic light is potentially deleted from the south end of Green Lake due to #KeepMovingStreets nearby. #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss mentions continued convos about policing, setting up for success. Public safety still a concern. Historic opportunity for changes at root of our communities. #d6townhall

Micro-policing plans? We need to look at programs we're funding, not just cut broadly. "Need a scalpel" to define cuts — @CMDanStrauss #d6townhall

We're over time for Phinney Ridge. Re #StayHealthyStreets: it's important we create enough space to use streets without getting too close — @CMDanStrauss . Around Green Lake / Golden Gardens, "changes that need to be made." GG Dr had problems early on. #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss talking about access issues for vehicles with boat trailers getting to Golden Gardens during #KeepMovingStreets. Out of time. #d6townhall

Next up: Wallingford Community Council, Glenn Singer. #d6townhall

Focusing on 2- and 3-bedroom affordable housing and aging in place which "nobody has talked about" for the last few years — Singer
Also need to support homeless relief, including Northlake Village. Asking city to use public land for homeless services.
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We want to talk about transportation strategies that consider bikers, walkers, and "people still drive cars" — Singer
Concerns about parking. 45th St is the main drag in Wallingford, but lack of parking threatens local businesses
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Concerns about waterway access. City Council liaison strategy (Singer chairs group, which meets monthly). We need to revisit goals to ensure that Black Wallingford residents feel safe, welcome, and valued as contributors. Make Wallingford accepting for everyone.
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From Wallingford, "we need input before decisions are made" on #StayHealthyStreets, #DefundSPD, etc. Will we benefit from these decisions? Also, design review on new communities/development. How do you feel about that?
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. @CMDanStrauss talks about 2- and 3-bedroom affordable housing. Concern about "skinny tall buildings" that may not be suitable for families or aging in place. Started talking about cafe streets to be inclusive for all abilities.
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Other issues: continue conversation, evaluate if early outreach for construction planning isn't working as intended. Transit/driving/parking: I hear you, and I drive, and I understand those concerns — @CMDanStrauss #d6townhall

"The wallet is closer to the cash register" for cyclists and peds than drivers — @CMDanStrauss
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Waterway 20: I'm a huge advocate for water access. Plans for this have been delayed due to #Covid19seattle — @CMDanStrauss #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss cites importance of relationship with community groups in deciding how to #DefundSPD. We are "just on time" to move to next item, community convo on race. #d6townhall

Now moving on to a panel discussion from within District 6 concerning race: Demarcus Wigfall, Justice for Black Lives Organizer, moderating. #d6townhall

Also on the panel: Brian Salter, Richelle Dickerson, Chris Spring, Julie Myers, Phoenix Johnson, and Sergio García. #d6townhall

Panelists introducing themselves. Some have been active on the politics-heavy District 6 Facebook group. #d6townhall

Phoenix Johnson, of the Tlingit and Haida Nations, is (I believe) the lone Native American person on this panel. Advocates for a land acknowledgement and commitment to relationship change.
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Race is more pertinent as a discussion topic than are streets, parks, and other topics discussed earlier — Wigfall
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Discussion of how #COVID19seattle has affected relationships and participation in protests #d6townhall

Dickenson, who identifies as a light-skinned Black woman, talks about her background in the Deep South and about Seattle's self-styled diversity and progressivism versus "insidious" racism and white supremacy that pervades the city.
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Dickenson expresses concerns about gentrification, displacement, murder, and extreme disrespect that has harmed the Black community in the Seattle area, where she has lived for 20+ years. Talks about the particular impact of COVID-19 on BIPOC communities.
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White people who stole Native American land to build Seattle "are still here" — Dickenson, who also points out the challenge of the Duwamish people to be recognized as a Native American nation
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"I am done" listening to White people have conversations with BIPOC but without respect — Dickenson (ed: she has posted several items on District 6 to this effect and rapidly closed discussion on them) #d6townhall

García, who is a transplant from Miami and who is a @SeattlePD officer, is asked by Wigfall about people's comfort level with the militarization of police forces. #d6townhall

García, a POC and first-generation American, talks about how he is still a Brown person even after taking his police uniform off. "Hopefully we get a change of administration" and we can start addressing COVID-19 more equitably #d6townhall

García trying to remain neutral with respect to providing information about how police operates. "A collective conversation" is needed. "I'm not considered a Seattleite," he says.
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García as both a police officer and a POC, feels like "the looks are on me" when he is both on and off duty in Seattle.
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We are 2 minutes from the nominal end time of this session
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García points out the injustices in the U.S. judicial system, such as not preparing people coming out of prison for reintegration into society. Doesn't feel directly connected to that.
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"I'm just as frustrated when I see these videos come out," says García on police violence. He says that @SeattlePD is "probably the most progressive [police] agency in the country."
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Dickenson jumps in with a statement that @SeattlePD has been under a consent decree since 2011 due to killings of minority person. Also criticizes García for his profession of neutrality while also being a police officer.
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"I'm sorry that it's affecting you personally … but the police are the problem" — Dickerson, to García
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I realized that I've referred to Richelle Dickerson as "Dickenson" in earlier tweets — my apologies for the error
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Wigfall jumps in to toss to Brian Salter, a Black man who previously lived in Harlem. Asks Salter about inherent racism in policing in America.
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"There can never be justice on stolen land," Salter brings up, from Phoenix Johnson's intro. Also appreciates Dickerson's statements on her background and experience. Amplifies both statements.
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"Whiteness is the problem," says Salter, in context of García's comments on racism in policing. Clarifies distinction between "Whiteness" and "White people." "I'm not qualified to be on this panel," says Salter, who offers only his own opinions.
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In moving from New York City to Seattle, Salter comments (apologetically) that Seattleites present themselves as "politically liberal … but emotionally conservative." Hard to get Seattleites to look beyond White progressiveness, to analyze …
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… their own participation in White supremacy. Good intentions in allyship, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Why is the term "ally" so important? — Salter
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Wigfall takes that statement by Salter and asks @CMDanStrauss about District 6, once known as an immigrant district for Northern Europeans. How has #COVID19Seattle affected situation? (Session extended until 7:00 PM)
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. @CMDanStrauss rejects notions that a person is not a true Seattleite, or unqualified to be on panel, because membership in our community is open to all of us. Deconstructing Whiteness — very important to challenge mistakes rooted in good intentions #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss doesn't know why "ally" is such an important marker to have. It's a path, not a destination, he says. Constant work/education/empathy required to understand people with different lived experiences. #d6townhall

. @CMDanStrauss , who is White, points out that he has had largely good experiences with police, but encourages people to see others' lived experience with police in the context of #DefundSPD. Salter jumps in, asking White folks to educate themselves.
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Salter cautions of a "blind leading the blind" situation if White people converse with White people on racial injustice without enough knowledge/literacy to have a constructive impact. Much White supremacy is instilled in us from a very young age.
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This is a good, blunt, important discussion that is constructive but that doesn't paper over the well-intentioned but counterproductive steps often taken in pursuit of racial equity.
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