TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND
POLICY CHANGES COMMITTEE MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER AT 9:41 A.M.,
JULY 18th, 2025, I AM CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE AND LET THE
RECORD REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
RIVERA, AND SAKA ARE EXCUSED .
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> SOLOMON ?
>> RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE NEEDS TO
BE MOVED. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HAS
JOINED ONLINE . THERE ARE FIVE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU AND WE WILL NOW
MOVE FORWARD TO APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA TODAY, I MOVED TO ADOPT
THE AGENDA, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND .
>> MOVED AND SECONDED, HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS -- THERE IS A
LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. THERE IS AN
ISSUE HERE. MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION TO ITEM 1 WILL BE
REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
AMENDED TO REMOVE ITEM 1. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA AS AMENDED WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
AGENDA IS AMENDED -- AS AMENDED
IS ADOPTED WELCOME TO THE
MEETING FOR THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND
POLICY CHANGES. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING TODAY'S
MEETING, FOR THESE MEDICAL
DISCUSSIONS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME AND ATTENTION AND EXPERTISE
DURING THESE INCREDIBLY
CHALLENGING TIMES. ON THE
AGENDA, WE WILL HEAR TWO ITEMS,
THE FIRST IS AN UPDATE FROM THE
CITY OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS AND THEY WILL BE
PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THE
BIG BETRAYAL BILL WILL IMPACT
THE CITY AND STATE AND AN UPDATE
ON WHAT IS BEING EXPERIENCED
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS OF
THE DONALD TRUMP REGIME. BEFORE
WE MOVE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND PRESENTATIONS, I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT, IN ADDITION TO
THE TRAIL -- BETRAYAL BILL, OF
THE THINGS THAT COME TO OUR
ATTENTION, INFORMATION ABOUT,
THE BILL WILL KICK 330,000
WASHINGTONS UP THERE -- OFF OF
THEIR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND THE
HOSPITAL SYSTEM WILL IS $6.6
BILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE. IN
SEATTLE, SOME OF THOSE CUTS LOOK
LIKE OVER $56 MILLION FROM
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER THE
ONLY LEVEL THREE TRAUMA CENTER
IN THE REGION, NOT JUST THE
STATE AND OVER $35 MILLION FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
CENTER, NEARLY $30 MILLION FROM
SWEDISH MEDICAL CENTER AND $12
MILLION FROM -- ALTOGETHER,
OTHER HOSPITALS , IN OTHER
COUNTIES, $660 MILLION ANNUALLY
AND DEVASTATING FOR PATIENTS AND
PROVIDERS IT WILL FORCE CLOSURES
OF HOSPITALS AND CLINICS,
SERVICES WILL BE SCALED-BACK AND
INSURANCE PREMIUMS WILL RISE AS
EARLY AS FOURTH QUARTER OF 2025
. THIS IS MOST REPRESSIVE TAX
BILL IN HALF A CENTURY OF
FEDERAL POLICY . THE EFFECTS
WILL BE DEVASTATING AND FELT BY
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS. WE
MUST DEMAND BETTER NATIONALLY,
AND ACT LOCALLY. WITH THAT, WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT TIME FOR COMMENTS
RELATED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP ?
>> WE HAVE ZERO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> THE REMOTE SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. WE WILL MOVE TO
THEM NOW. PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS, CLERK
>> PUBLIC COMMENT TIME WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER, PUBLIC COMMENT TYPE IS
UP TO 60 MINUTES AND SPEAKERS
WILL BE CAUGHT IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY WERE REGISTERED,
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHILD WITH
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT ON THE TYPE
AND SPEAKERS MICROPHONES WILL BE
NEEDED IF THEY DO NOT STOP THE
COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED
TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER AND THE PUBLIC TIME
IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST. FIRST SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES.
>> THANK YOU. HOW MUCH MONEY --
WAIT, THE BIG BETRAYAL SEATTLE
KNOWS A LOT ABOUT BETRAYAL WITH
POLICIES, WITH CONSTANT BUDGET
CRISIS, HOW MUCH MONEY DO THESE
HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
MAKES REPRESENTING THE RACIST
PREFERRED MISINTERPRETATIONS OF
POLICY , MISJUDGING SKIN COLOR
THAT HAS EXACERBATED THE
HOMELESS CRISIS WITH UNNECESSARY
-- WHILE PURCHASING HOW MUCH
THEY CARE FOR CERTAIN SKIN
COLORS OF REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO
GOUGE MEDICAID, PADDING --
PASSING THE COST TO BIG PHARMA ,
FOR JUNKIES WHO VOLUNTARILY ROAM
AROUND DECIDING HOW MUCH EFFORT
THEY WILL PUT INTO THE MEDICATED
OF WRITING THE PREDICTION AND
HALFHEARTED MANNER. WHY IS THE
HOMELESS , HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE BEING CAREFUL
THIS WHOLE MONTH, WHILE WE HAVE
AN ONGOING HOMELESS CRISIS OF
UNNECESSARY SUFFERING
EXACERBATED BY CITY HALL
EXECUTIVE PRIORITIES AND
POLICIES , THAT PROSECUTE
INNOCENT WHITE HOMELESS OR
RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR EVIL
REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO RUIN THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS ? WHY IS
THIS COMMITTEE BEING USED AS A
CAMPAIGN PLATFORM DURING
ELECTION SEASON , VIRTUE
SIGNALING THAT ALL OF THE
FAILURES OF PROGRESSIVE POLICIES
IS TO BLAME DONALD TRUMP AND
MAGA FOR EVERYTHING, DISTRACTING
THE DEMOCRATS ARE ABUSING
MEDICAID WITH UNQUALIFIED
POLITICALLY CONNECTED NONPROFITS
THAT HAVE THESE EXTREMELY RICH
EXECUTIVES WHO SPENT ALL OF
THEIR TIME HIRING EXPERIENCE SO
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO INTERACT
WITH THE PEOPLE, THEY MAINTAIN
THEIR INTERGOVERNMENTAL
POLITICAL DONATIONS, WITH
ELECTION SUPPORT FOR A
WATERED-DOWN INTEGRITY OF
OVERSIGHT . I KNOW FOR FACT THAT
MEDICAID IS BEING GOUGED BY THE
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF
SEATTLE, YOU NEED TO BE
INVESTIGATED BECAUSE YOU'RE
PERSECUTING INNOCENT PEOPLE --
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION -- WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE FIRST ITEM, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT
ANALYSIS, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> WITH THAT I WILL INVITE THE
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS TO COME UP TO THE
TABLE AND, WHEN SETTLED, IF YOU
CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF BY
SPEAKING YOUR NAME INTO THE
MICROPHONE FOR THE RECORD.
>> GOOD MORNING , COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR INVITING
ME HERE TODAY . AS MENTIONED, I
WILL BE PRESENTING ON HR ONE,
FORMALLY ENTITLED THE ONE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL . THIS IS A
CONSEQUENTIAL SPENDING BILL
STRUCTURED AS A BUDGET
RECONCILIATION PACKAGE THAT HAS
ALLOWED FOR A SIMPLE MAJORITY
PASSAGE, THWARTING FILIBUSTER
REQUIREMENTS AND WAS PASSED JUST
RECENTLY , AND SIGNED INTO LAW
BY PRESIDENT TRUMP ON JULY 4th.
IT INCORPORATES COMMITTEES INTO
A UNIFIED LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.
SPANS ALMOST 900 PAGES . THIS IS
DEEMED ONE OF THE MOST
CONSEQUENTIAL PIECES OF
LEGISLATION IN OUR MODERN
HISTORY. OIR WITH OUR
DEPARTMENTS HAVE SPENT SOME TIME
ANALYZING THIS, GIVEN HOW LARGE
IT IS, A LOT MORE TO COME AS WE
DIVE INTO THE IMPACTS OF THIS
BILL IN YEARS TO COME. HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP ON MORE ITEMS NOT
MENTIONED TODAY. AT A HIGH
LEVEL, IT IMPOSES SIGNIFICANT
AND DEEP CUTS TO HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES, WHILE SHIFTING
RESPONSIBILITIES TO STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WE HAVE
DEEMED A LARGE BUCKET OF IMPACTS
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND OUR
CONSTITUENTS. ONLY SPEND TIME
TODAY ON FOUR OF THEM, HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES , IMMIGRATION
AND BORDER SECURITY, HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ALONG
WITH NUTRITION. WE WILL FOLLOW
UP WITH MORE ANALYSIS FOLLOWING
THIS PRESENTATION. STARTING WITH
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THIS
IS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
, MASSIVE CUTS TO MEDICAID AND
THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM. FACING THIS -- FACING
OUT WILL BE IN THE NEXT FEW
YEARS, PRIMARILY STARTING IN
2027, LOOKING AT CHANGES IN WORK
REQUIREMENTS , SPECIFIC AROUND
NONCITIZENS , NOT BEING ABLE TO
ENROLL IN BENEFITS, INCREASED
COST-SHARING TO STATES. ALONG
WITH THIS , PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
TO US IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE
PROHIBITIVE FEDERAL FUNDING TO
ENTITIES AS DEEMED AS TAXED
PRIMARILY AS NONPROFITS.
FAMILY-PLANNING SERVICES,
ABORTION SERVICES. SO,
SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT PLANNED
PARENTHOOD. WE WILL SEE A
GENERAL DROPPED IN AVAILABILITY
FOR SERVICES, EVEN AROUND THINGS
OUTSIDE OF ABORTION LIKE STI
TESTING, BIRTH CONTROL, AND
OTHER ENTITIES CRUCIAL TO OUR
RESIDENTS . ON THE MEDICAID
FRONT, A LOT OF THIS FUNDING
FOCUSES ON THE STATE AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE, I DID WANT TO
POINT OUT THAT THERE WILL BE
TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECTS AND A LOT
OF THIS WILL BE IMPACTING OUR
CONSTITUENTS DIRECTLY . AND
COULD IMPACT THINGS LIKE PAID
HEALTH, AGING SERVICES , THAT
FLOW THROUGH THE COUNTY.
ALREADY, IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE STATE, GOVERNOR FERGUSON HAS
ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BACKFILL THE
FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD
AND WE WILL BE CONTINUING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AS WE GET INTO THE
BUDGET SEASON. ALSO , I WANTED
TO POINT OUT, THE SMALLER
EFFECTS OTHER DEPARTMENTS WILL
SEE , FOR EXAMPLE, SEATTLE
LIBRARY, YOU HAVE A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN STAFF
TIME ALLOCATED TO HELPING
RESIDENTS FILL OUT FORMS AND
CLAIMS , SPECIFICALLY AROUND
MEDICAID AND S.N.A.P. AS WELL.
ON THE IMMIGRATION AND BORDER
SECURITY SIDE, I AM SURE PEOPLE
HAVE SEEN HEADLIGHTS AROUND THIS
, SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THE
INCREASE IN FEES FOR PEOPLE
APPLYING FOR ASYLUM TO GET
PROTECTIVE STATUS, TPS, EVEN
CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT
AUTHORIZATIONS . A SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR DHS ,
DOJ, AND I.C.E., YOU KNOW, WE
WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN FUNDING
FOR DETENTION CENTERS AND FEES ,
AND ESPECIALLY THE BORDER
ENFORCEMENT AS WELL. IT WILL BE
A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY
ALLOCATED FOR SECURITY COSTS.
FUNDING FOR FIFA WORLD CUP, THE
$625 MILLION WILL BE ALLOCATED
ACROSS ALL OF THE HOST CITIES
AND SEATTLE IS LOOKING AT ABOUT
, I BELIEVE, $31 MILLION FOR
THAT WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO SAFETY
AND SECURITY COSTS THAT FLOW
THROUGH DHS. LIKELY THAT MONEY
WILL FLOW THROUGH OUR LOCAL
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AND I KNOW
THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
FIFA TEAMS ARE WORKING ON HOW WE
RECEIVE THAT MONEY. OF COURSE,
YOU KNOW, JUST TO STATE THE
OBVIOUS, THIS WILL HAVE A
CHILLING EFFECT ON OUR
RESIDENTS, PEOPLE ARE ALREADY
HEARING FROM YOUR TEAMS , YOUR
OFFICES, THAT , PEOPLE ARE
SCARED, THERE COULD BE A
DECREASE IN PEOPLE WANTING TO GO
TO WORK OR FEELING COMFORTABLE
SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
SO, THAT TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECTS
SCARES THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE. LOOKING AT
THE HOUSING SIDE, PRIMARILY ,
TWO SIGNIFICANT BUCKETS, AN
EXPANSION OF THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING CREDIT , ALONG WITH A
FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITY ZONES. MORE
REQUIREMENTS IN THE OPPORTUNITY
ZONES, AND A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON
RURAL AREAS . SEATTLE DOES HAVE
A FEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THE BEACH,
THEY WILL NOT BE TOO SIGNIFICANT
OF IMPACTS GIVEN THE
REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE
SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE, WITH THE
EXPANSION . AND COULD BE
POTENTIAL INTERESTS TO EXPAND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A RESULT .
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE
POSITIVE, THERE WAS THE
PRESERVATION OF MUNICIPAL BONDS
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. THIS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR
DEPARTMENT , AS A FINANCING TOOL
FOR MASSIVE PROJECTS AROUND
TRANSPORTATION , WATER, CITY
LIGHT DID EXTENSIVE OUTREACH ON
THIS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE
THEIR ADVOCACY AS THIS WAS
DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT
WAS FOR SURE GOING TO GET
THROUGH. ANOTHER PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT BUCKET IS THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CUTS , ABOUT
$186 BILLION. THIS COULD MEAN
THAT WASHINGTON STATE WILL HAVE
TO SHOULDER $90 MILLION IN
COSTS, AND A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT
TO STATES THERE. YOU KNOW,
SPECIFICALLY , REDUCTION IN
BENEFITS , A FAMILY OF FOUR
COULD POTENTIALLY SEE $975 DOWN
TO $840, THAT IS A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER FOR FAMILIES
ACROSS WASHINGTON AND IN THE
CITY . ALONG WITH THAT ,
EXPANDED WORK REQUIREMENTS. A
REDUCTION IN S.N.A.P. ED, NOT A
REDUCTION BUT ELIMINATION OF
S.N.A.P. ED, KEY TO THE WORK OSC
AND HSD DOES. JUST THROUGH THE
DECREASE IN INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE
COULD MEAN THAT THE SCHOOLS AS A
WHOLE COULD BE LESS ELIGIBLE FOR
THOSE MEALS. ALONG WITH THIS ,
EDUCATION WISE , THAT PROGRAM
HAS 16 DIFFERENT ENTITIES ACROSS
KING COUNTY THAT PROVIDE
RESOURCES ON EDUCATION AROUND
FOOD AND HEALTH. SO, GENERALLY,
WE WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS WILL
CAUSE A STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM .
IF PEOPLE ARE NOT RECEIVING FOOD
VOUCHERS , WITH HEALTH
INSURANCE, WE COULD SEE ISSUES
ACROSS THE BOARD. JUST WANT TO
POINT THAT OUT AS WE ARE
THINKING ABOUT THE YEARS TO COME
AND STRAIN ON OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE WILL BE IN THE CONVERSATION
WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY
AND STATE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND
THE EFFECTS OF THIS, AND , OUR
DEPARTMENTS ARE STILL WORKING
THROUGH WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS
AS IT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. SO,
MORE TO COME ON THAT FRONT. I
WILL PAUSE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. AND FOLLOW-UP AS
NECESSARY. THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION. COLLEAGUES, WHAT
QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE AT THIS
TIME? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
>> I DO NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU, THE
CITY IS WORKING TO MITIGATE AND
BUILD AGAINST THESE HARMS THAT
ARE BEING DONE. LISTENING ABOUT
FUNDING FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
BEING CUT LAST NIGHT WE , AS THE
CITY, WILL BOLSTER MUNICIPAL
SERVICES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO
EVERY SEATTLEITE. NO MORE
QUESTIONS OR STATEMENTS, THIS IS
BAD AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO
MITIGATE THIS HARM. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AND HIGHLIGHTING THAT
THESE ABOUT PUBLIC RADIO.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I WILL
MOVE TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
AND WE WILL COME BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON ?
>> THESE DISASTROUS CUTS WILL
ESPECIALLY HURT THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE LIVING ON OUR STREETS AND
IMPACT OUR -- THE DELIVERY OF
OUR SERVICES. I AM WONDERING IF
THERE HAS BEEN ANY CONVERSATION
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH . I AM
PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
INEXTRICABLY LINKED PROBLEMS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY , CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS , AND ADDICTION,
WITHIN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF
OUR ORIGINAL EPIDEMIC , AND WHAT
TYPE -- FENTANYL EPIDEMIC, AND
WHAT KIND OF TREATMENTS ARE
DEPENDENT ON THAT FUNDING,
PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER GET TO THE
MEDICAID SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION .
WE ARE IN THE INITIAL PHASES OF
THOSE CONVERSATIONS . I HAVE NOT
SPOKEN WITH PUBLIC HEALTH YET .
I THINK EVERYONE , AT THIS
PHASE, ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF
OUT , ARE STILL UNDERSTANDING
AND ANALYZING THE IMPACTS
DIRECTLY. I THINK THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE COMING VERY
SOON. I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES
AT OIR HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT
TO START HAVING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS . YES , PUBLIC
HEALTH IS INTEGRAL TO THIS BILL
. ESPECIALLY AROUND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS . WE ARE
DEFINITELY THINKING THROUGH THE
MEDICAID PART ON THAT FRONT, I
AM HAPPY TO INCLUDE YOU IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AS WE MOVE
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, THESE DISASTROUS
CUTS, THE RESOLUTION TO
PRIORITIZE SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER TREATMENT IN BOTH OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING PLAN , AND
IN OUR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.
FAILING TO ACT IS NOT JUST
FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE , BUT
A MORAL FAILURE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK,
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
APOLOGIZE, I HAVE BEEN BOUNCING
TO TRY TO GET MY LAPTOP FIXED
AND TO MY PHONE, I APOLOGIZE BUT
I MADE IT . I DID NOT HEAR THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT BUT I THINK
SHE WAS SPEAKING TO WHAT I WAS
GOING TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT,
BRING THIS UP IN TERMS OF PUBLIC
SAFETY, BUT THE INTERFACE
BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH, HOW WE NEED TO TAKE
ACTION , HOW CAN WE PROTECT AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF
MEDICAID COVERAGE, BECAUSE THE
MEDICAID PIECE WILL BE VITAL IN
TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
DO. THOSE INTERSECTIONS OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY , PUBLIC HEALTH
AND HOMELESSNESS WE TALK ABOUT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. AS PART OF
MY SYSTEMS PIECE, I WAS NOTICING
, I MISSED PARTS OF THE
SECURITY-RELATED TO THE WORLD
CUP BUT I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH MY
TEAM AND THAT WILL BE SOMETHING
THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT,
GENERALLY, BUT ALSO WITH PUBLIC
SAFETY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER,
THOSE FIFA DOLLARS SHOULD BE
ABOUT $31.5 MILLION, OUR
PARTNERS AT THE CITY WITH FIFA,
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO
RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, IS THAT A NEW HAND?
>> YES. SO, IN THE GOVERNANCE
AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT LAST WEEK , THERE
WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
FUND TREATMENT MORE EXPENSIVELY
. ONE THING THAT WAS SAID BY
LISA DU GARD , THAT WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE, VERY RAPIDLY GET
PEOPLE VERIFIED FOR INABILITY TO
WORK IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE
MEDICAID BENEFITS . WHY DON'T
WE GET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT
CAN HELP PEOPLE FILL OUT
PAPERWORK ? SO, THAT SEEMS LIKE
A GOOD IDEA .
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE
WILL CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT
THAT AND CREATIVE WAYS , PEOPLE
ARE THINKING THROUGH HOW WE
COULD DO IT IN A VOLUNTEER
CAPACITY. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
>> YEP, THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS BEFORE I GO ON TO
MINE? THIS IS A LOT INFORMATION
TO DIGEST AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THIS THOROUGH
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THESE
CUTS AND CHANGES MEAN FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS. I AM WONDERING , IF
THERE IS DIRECT INTERACTION WITH
THE AREA AGENCY FOR AGING WITHIN
HSD? THE AREA AGENCY IS
SOMETHING THAT IS OVERSEEN BY
THE CITY OF SEATTLE BUT
TYPICALLY A FEDERAL RESOURCE .
ARE THERE ANY OF THESE CHANGES
THAT IMPACT THAT BODY OF WORK?
>> YES, I HAVE BEEN IN EARLY
CONVERSATIONS WITH HSD, THEY
WILL NEED MORE TIME TO REALLY GO
THROUGH THE MEDICAID IMPACTS. WE
HAVE ALREADY THOUGHT THROUGH AND
TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE
ELDERS. CHANGES AROUND MEDICARE
AS WELL. YES, NOT FULLY PREPARED
TO ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW. BUT
HAPPY TO WORK WITH HSD ON THAT
FRONT AS WE UNDERSTAND HOW THAT
WILL IMPACT US. YES, IT WILL
FLOW THROUGH THE COUNTY ON THAT
FRONT.
>> WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THE
IMPACT TO SENIORS AND WE WOULD
LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION. AND, ALSO, DO WE
HAVE A SENSE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
OUR DISABILITY JUSTICE PARTNERS,
ADDITIONAL WORK REQUIREMENTS PUT
IN PLACE, I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE
EXCEPTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN HEALTH
CONDITIONS AND DISABILITY, BUT
DO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING
ABOUT WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE
AND IF THERE ARE CONCERNS AND
WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR DISABLED
COMMUNITY?
>> THANK YOU . NOT EXTENSIVELY .
WE ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT
THOSE. THERE IS AN EXEMPTION FOR
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. OBVIOUSLY ,
A FOCUS ON NONCITIZENS. HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP WITH THE INS AND OUTS
OF THOSE CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY.
>> THANK YOU . NOT QUITE A
QUESTION BUT MORE OF A POINT,
SLIDE 6 RELATED TO IMMIGRATION
AND BORDER SECURITY. IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING WITH INFORMATION
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ACLU , YOU
CAN CONFIRM THIS AND SEE IF THIS
IS CONSISTENT WITH YOUR
UNDERSTANDING. WITHIN THIS BILL,
$29 BILLION IS BEING ALLOCATED
FOR NEW AGENTS ALONE, BETWEEN
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY AND I.C.E., FOR
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
10,000 NEW AGENTS NOT CLEAR HOW
MANY NEW AGENTS THAT TRANSLATE
TO I.C.E., COULD YOU CONFIRM
THAT?
>> I HAVE SEEN THAT 10,000
NUMBERS. SPECIFICALLY TO SEND IT
TO URBAN AREAS AS WELL. I
BELIEVE THAT NUMBER SOUNDS ABOUT
ACCURATE BUT I CAN CONFIRM THAT.
>> I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE
CONFIRMATION ON THAT
INFORMATION. WHILE THIS HAS
INSTILLED A LOT OF FEAR IN OUR
COMMUNITY WITH THE CURRENT
STAFFING LEVELS OF I.C.E.
AGENTS, HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT
THOUSANDS MORE AGENTS NEED FOR A
CITY . THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING
THAT INFORMATION ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FOR ANNIE? THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RINCK, NICE
TO SEE YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES . WE
WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT --
SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS, I WILL
WAIT FOR THE CLERK TO COME BACK.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> HUMAN AND SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, IF YOU COULD TAKE A MOMENT
TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR THE
RECORD.
>> I AM BATTING 1000 WHEN IT
COMES TO BUNS THIS WEEK. --
BUTTONS THIS WEEK. COUNCILMEMBER
, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I AM
MARISSA PEREZ , I USE SHE/HER
PRONOUNS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME,
AMARINTHIA TORRES , WITH THE
COALITION OF AGING RESOURCES.
>> JOE GRUBER , EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT FEEDBACK, HE/HIM.
>> THANK YOU THREE FOR BEING
HERE . I KNOW YOU HAVE A
PRESENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT , GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO
THE NEXT SLIDE. I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION. WE ARE A COALITION OF
SEVEN DIFFERENT MEMBER
COALITIONS REPRESENTING OVER 250
SERVICE AGENCIES , NONPROFITS,
AND PROGRAMS IN EVERY SEATTLE
DISTRICT . THESE RANGE FROM FOOD
BANKS TO DV SERVICE PROVIDERS
AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS .
WE CAME TOGETHER IN 1987 TO
PROVIDE A UNIFIED VOICE FOR
HUMAN SERVICES. WE TRULY BELIEVE
IN COLLABORATION ACROSS SECTORS.
OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS , WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY
WITH OUR MEMBER AGENCIES ,
GATHERING DATA AND STORIES ABOUT
THE LOOMING PROSPECT OF FEDERAL
FUNDING CUTS AND WHAT THEY WILL
MEAN FOR OUR HUMAN SERVICES
NETWORK. WE HAVE GATHERED DATA
REGARDING THE AMOUNT AGENCIES
ARE PREPARING TO LOSE, THE
EFFECTS OF THAT LOSS AND THE
OVERALL REDUCTION IN SERVICES
ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS . THE
BOTTOM LINE IS, HOWEVER , WE DO
NOT KNOW THE DELIBERATE EFFORT
BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO
OBFUSCATE, CONFUSE, AND
DISCOURAGE HIS IDEOLOGICAL
OPPONENTS MEET WE HAVE VERY
LITTLE CONCRETE INFORMATION ON
WHICH TO ACT . THE CHAOS IS
DELIBERATE, DESPITE IT, OUR
AGENCIES ARE SHOWING UP EVERY
DAY IN FEEDING, HOUSING, SERVING
OUR NEIGHBORS. WITH NO GUARANTEE
OF FUNDING THE NEXT DAY TODAY,
WITH MY TEAMMATES AND COLLEAGUES
, I HOPE TO OUTLINE WHAT WE ARE
PHASING AS A SECTOR. WHILE
RECENT LEGISLATION DID NOT
AFFECT DISCRETIONARY FUNDING IN
THE HHS AND HUD, THE HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AND HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT, WE ANTICIPATE
THAT THE CUTS THAT WERE
REFLECTED TO OTHER SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS IN THE ONE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL WILL ALSO HAPPEN
IN THE COMING APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS OVER THE NEXT MONTHS . THE
PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED 2026
BUDGET HE PRESENTED IN FEBRUARY
CUTS $33 BILLION FROM HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AND PROPOSES A
43% CUT TO HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING NEARLY
$27 MILLION IN HOUSING AND
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
THESE CUTS WILL UNDERMINE VITAL
HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS AND THE
TWO MORE HOMELESSNESS, FOOD
INSECURITY, AND PRESSURE ON
LOCAL PROVIDERS. AS YOU CAN SEE,
THE CHART ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE
OF THE SLIDE TALKS ABOUT THE
PERCENTAGE OF ALL INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE RECEIVING BENEFITS OF
EACH TYPE. EXTRAPOLATE FROM THAT
HOW MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS IN
SEATTLE ARE GOING TO LOSE ACCESS
TO THOSE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE ,
THEY WILL THEN TAKE THAT NEED TO
OUR HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES WILL
ALSO BE PHASING FUNDING CUTS .
SO, IT WILL JUST BE BAD ACROSS
THE BOARD. NEXT SLIDE. LOOKING
AT SOME OF OUR FUNDING LOSS
SURVEY INFORMATION. THESE WERE
THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ANSWERED THE SURVEY. WHILE THE
APPROACH -- BILLS MOVE TO THE
HOUSE AND SENATE AND NOT YET
FINAL, HOUSE REPUBLICANS THIS
WEEK BOASTED OF SLASHING THE HUD
WORKFORCE BY 26% OF THOSE ARE
FOLKS THAT ARE AGENCIES RELY ON
TO GET THE GRANTS. AND THEIR
PROGRAMS FUNDED. THESE THREE
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS , THE
FIRST ONE IS A MULTI-SERVICE
ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN SEATTLE,
9% OF THE $10 MILLION BUDGET IS
INCORRECT, NOT DIRECT FEDERAL
FUNDING, LOSING THAT WOULD MEAN
CUTTING THEIR NUTRITION
EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND LOSS OF
THEIR S.N.A.P. FUNDED EDUCATION.
>> THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS
STILL LOGGED IN AND RETURNING TO
BE VIRTUAL.
>> OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT
SERVICENTER IN KING COUNTY, 43%
OF THE DIRECT AND NON-DIRECT
FEDERAL FUNDING OF THEIR BUDGET
IS IN DIRECT AND NONDIRECT
FEDERAL FUNDING, THIS IS SCARY
BECAUSE THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN, KEY FEDERAL
PARTNER FOR THE GENDER SERVICE
PROVIDERS IS ANTICIPATING LOSING
OVER A QUARTER OF ITS BUDGET.
THAT MEANS THEY WOULD BE UNABLE
TO SERVE OVER 2000 SURVIVORS
ANNUALLY. LASTLY, THE SENIOR
CENTER IN SOUTH SEATTLE , 85% OF
THEIR FUNDING IS IN GOVERNMENT
FUNDS, WHICH MEANS THAT IT IS
PASSED THROUGH DOLLARS THROUGH
STATE AND CITY AND COUNTY
PROVIDERS. AND CONTRACTS. IT IS
VERY HARD TO PREPARE FOR A LOSS
OF THIS TYPE OF FUNDING BECAUSE
OF THE NATURE OF SOME OF THESE
FUNDS. LOSING THOSE DOLLARS
WOULD MEAN REDUCING SOCIAL
SERVICES STAFF AND REDUCING HOT
FOOD FOR FOOD INSECURE SENIORS.
THESE ARE SOME QUOTES I PULLED
DIRECTLY FROM OUR SURVEY,
FUNDING RESTRICTIONS ARE ALREADY
SHOWING UP IN CONTRACTS COME IN
REQUIRED REPORTING COME IN
FUNDED ACTIVITIES, THAT ARE
ALLOWABLE, AND RESPONSES TO
GRANT APPLICATIONS . SOME OF
THESE RESTRICTIONS RANGE FROM
RESTRICTIONS ON DI LANGUAGE TO
FORCING COOPERATION WITH
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT , AND
EVEN RESTRICTIONS ON
REPRODUCTIVE CARE AS A
REQUIREMENT FOR GETTING THOSE
GRANTS . ONE DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR FOUND COMPETITION FROM
PRIVATE FUNDERS NOT RESTRICTING
DEI LANGUAGE INCREASED BY 300%
IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS
YEAR. THIS IS NOT JUST AFFECTING
THE GOVERNMENT GRANTS , IT IS
ALSO AFFECTING PRIVATE GRANTS
AND PRIVATE FUNDING. I WOULD
LIKE TO SPEND SOME TIME FOCUSING
ON OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.
THE DATA FROM THE NEXT LIGHT WAS
GATHERING CORRELATION WITH THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL OF KING
COUNTY AND THE REPORT TOGETHER
BY SENATOR CANTWELL 'S OFFICE
AND AN OVERVIEW OF HOW MANY
PATIENTS OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS SERVE EACH YEAR AND WHAT
PERCENT OF THE REVENUE THEY RELY
ON THE COMES FROM MEDICAID . AS
YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS A RANGE OF
NUMBERS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND
DISTRICTS, RANGING FROM 31% IN
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, TO
77% OF THE HEALTH POINT. WHICH
HAS 20 DIFFERENT KING COUNTY
LOCATIONS. A FEW KEY POINTS TO
EMPHASIZE ON THE SLIDE, ONE,
SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW, 80% OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S
POPULATION RELIES ON COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS FOR PRIMARY AND
PREVENTATIVE CARE AS WE SAW
PREVIOUSLY, IF 77% OF THAT
INCOME AND THE REVENUE AND
ABILITY TO STAY OPEN RELIES ON
MEDICAID, LOSING THAT COVERAGE
WITH ONE THIRD OF CURRENT
ENROLLEES LOSING THE COVERAGE ,
THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING TO OUR
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE
REQUIRED TO SEE EVERYONE
REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY AND
THIS MODEL IS HIGHLY
COST-EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT IS
UPSTREAM IN INTERVENTIONS THAT
PROVIDE -- PREVENT COSTLY
HOSPITAL CARE DOWN THE LINE BY
KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY. LOSING
MEDICAID COVERAGE WILL NOT
DECREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS
SEEKING HELP, IT WILL INSTEAD
PUT FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON THIS
MEDICAL SAFETY NET , RESULTING
IN WORSE OUTCOMES AND MORE
MEDICAL DEBT AND INCREASED
MEDICAL COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD .
WHILE THE CHANGES ARE NOT
SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE UNTIL
2026 , WE ARE ALREADY SEEING
CHANGES BEING MADE TO INDIVIDUAL
PLANS IMPACTING ACCESS TO CARE.
THE COMMUNITY , AS A WHOLE, WILL
BE IMPACTED BY FEDERAL CUTS,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT FUNDING
STREAM MAY AFFECT AND CUTS AT
THE CITY, COUNTY , STATE, AND
PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES WILL
IMPACT THE OVERALL CAPACITY AND
RESILIENCE OF THE HUMAN SERVICE
SYSTEM . WE DESPERATELY NEED THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND
HIS TEAM AND OUR COUNTY AND
STATE PARTIES TO PRIORITIZE
FUNDING FOR HUMAN SERVICES AND
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE
WORST EFFECT OF THESE CUTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION. COLLEAGUES , I
WILL ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS IN
BETWEEN OUR PRESENTATIONS GIVEN
WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED. DO YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR PEREZ? STRAUSS?
>> A SIMILAR THEME ALL DAY ,
GOOD TO SEE YOU, WE WORK
TOGETHER PRETTY CLOSELY ON A
NUMBER OF ISSUES. I DON'T HAVE
QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD. AGAIN,
SIMILAR AS LAST TIME, SIMILAR
CONVERSATION WE WILL HAVE WITH
THE NEXT PRESENTATION, THIS IS
BAD, OUR JOB IN THE CITY TO
BLUNT THESE CUTS AN NEGATIVE
IMPACT, THAT IS OUR JOB. IN THE
FACE OF ALL OF THIS DEVASTATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, THIS
PRESENTATION CONFIRMS WHAT WE
WERE SAYING BEFORE AND MOST OF
US HAVE SEEN ON THE STREETS
INTERACTING WITH THE DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM. I THINK
IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT WE CAN
USE THE WORD CRISIS NOW THE BILL
HAS BEEN PASSED AND SIGNED.
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH
MANY CRISIS IS, I THINK THE KEY
IS, PREPARATION, WE DO NEED A
TASK FORCE EFFORT ON THIS TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE BEST PREPARED
TO RESPOND . THE FIRST PIECE IS,
ASSURING THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF
MEDICARE COVERAGE WE CAN GET.
THERE WERE DIFFERENT PIECES TO
THAT AND THIS WILL TAKE SOME
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS. MARSHALING
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF
THIS TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT,
YOU KNOW, IN A SIMPLE WAY MAKE
SURE THE TS ARE CROSSED, AND IS
ARE DOTTED. TASK FORCE WITH THE
VARIOUS PIECES OF THIS
ECOSYSTEM. I THINK IT IS GOING
TO BE QUITE NEEDED. THERE IS NO
NEED TO DELAY. BETWEEN THE
NONPROFITS, THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY, WHICH HAS THE PUBLIC
HEALTH RESPONSIBILITY, BOARD OF
HEALTH MEETING YESTERDAY,
MEETING WITH KING COUNCIL LATER
THIS AFTERNOON , I WILL RESTATE
THIS WITH HIM, WE DO NEED TO BE
LOCKSTEP WITH THE COUNTY, WITH
THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE WE
WILL BE PHASING . IN COOPERATION
WITH THE STATE AS WELL. I AM
SHORT THE NEXT PRESENTATIONS
WILL BE VERY SIMILAR. I WANT TO
BE BLUNT ON THIS, AS SOMEONE WHO
HAS BEEN IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CRISIS IS BEFORE, AS WE WORK ON
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT. AS A
HUMAN SERVICES CHAIR, AS PUBLIC
SAFETY, YOU AND YOUR ROLE,
WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE ,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT , THE ENTIRE
TEAM ON THE COUNCIL, WORKING
WITH THE EXECUTIVE, AND THE
NONPROFITS. WE NEED VOLUNTEER
GROUPS . EVERYTHING AND
EVERYBODY. WE KEEP THROWING
AROUND STUFF LIKE, "ALL HANDS ON
DECK." THIS IS TRULY A ALL HANDS
ON DECK MOMENT. I WANTED TO
FOLLOW UP WITH MY EARLIER
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
SPIRIT , ESPECIALLY IN THIS
MOMENT .
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? I
BELIEVE YOU ARE MUTED.
>> I HAPPEN AT THIS HOW MANY
YEARS? MORE AND MORE CLEAR, IT
IS ESSENTIAL, WE ISOLATE --
INSULATE INDIVIDUALS, AS A
RESULT, FROM -- OUR COMMUNITY --
IN PARTICULAR , THE WORK
ENVIRONMENTS, BY AFFECTIVELY,
QUICKLY , SIGNING PEOPLE UP, IN
FILING VERIFICATION. I AM MAKING
THAT POINT KNOWN AGAIN. IN THE
COALITION , YOU PROBABLY KNOW,
THIS PROBABLY BECAME AN APPARENT
NEED QUICKLY. ARE THERE ANY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING
ANY KIND OF VOLUNTEER , OR PAID
HELP ON THAT FRONT TO OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH CLIENTELE
OR PATIENTS ?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON .
AT THIS TIME, I AM NOT AWARE OF
WHICH AGENCIES -- I KNOW THEY
HAVE DEDICATED STAFF THAT DO
THAT, I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE HAS
BEEN AN INCREASE IN REQUESTS OR
WHAT OUTREACH THEY ARE DOING TO
ACCESS THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE
MAYBE NOT SIGNED UP . I CAN
DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP WITH THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL AND GET
YOU THAT INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON ?
>> THANK YOU HIM I WANTED TO SAY
THAT, NOT SO MANY QUESTIONS , I
WILL HOLD THOSE UNTIL AFTER ALL
THE PRESENTATIONS ARE MADE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU .
>> I AM MINDFUL WE ARE SCARCE ON
QUORUM TODAY , IN THE INTEREST
OF NOT WANTING TO LOSE QUORUM I
WILL CALL A FIVE MINUTE RECESS
TO ALLOW FOR THE MEMBERS TO TAKE
A BIO BREAK. WITH NO OBJECTION ,
I WILL CALL FOR A RECESS AND WE
WILL RECONVENE AT 10:35.
PERFECT. WE ARE ON RECESS. THANK
YOU.
>> THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND
POLICY CHANGES MEETING WILL COME
BACK TO ORDER. IT IS 10:35, I AM
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, ALEXIS
MERCEDES RINCK, PLEASE CALL THE
WALL AND HOLLINGSWORTH , RIVERA,
AND SAKA ARE EXCUSED.
>> KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> NELSON?
>> HERE.
>> RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS
PRESENT. DR. THE SECOND ITEM OF
BUSINESS , PLEASE READ ITEM 3
INTO THE RECORD.
>> PANEL ON HUMAN AND SOCIAL
SERVICES PROVIDERS, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK
YOU, COLLEAGUES, OR ALLOWING FOR
THAT BRIEF RECESS . WE WILL MAKE
THEIR PRESENTATION FROM
COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TORRES FOR
THE COALITION ENDING
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS AMARINTHIA
TORRES, SHE/HER PRONOUNS . THANK
YOU TO THE CHAIR FOR INVITING ME
. AND TO ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR PRIORITIZING THIS IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION . TODAY, I WILL
SHARE SOME CONTEXT OF THE
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE MOVEMENT
AND THEN SHARE HOW LOCAL
PROGRAMS IN SEATTLE ARE BEING
IMPACTED BY THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION AND HOW TO
HIGHLIGHT CRITICAL WAYS TO MOVE
FORWARD TOGETHER. OUR COALITION
IS THE COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR OVER
35 MEMBER PROGRAMS, ALL WORKING
TO STOP GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLICATION. ANYTIME
ANYONE DOES NOT CONFORM TO WHAT
IS EXPECTED OF THEIR GENDER,
THEY RUN THE RISK OF BEING
TARGETS OF VIOLENCE. IF A FRIEND
OR LOVED ONE IS BEING CONTROLLED
BY THEIR PARTNER OR HARASSED AT
SCHOOL OR ONLINE FORCED TO HAVE
SEX WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO,
THEY MAY NEED THE SUPPORT
PROVIDED BY A LOCAL GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE PROGRAM. OUR MISSION IS
ONE THAT RECOGNIZES THREE
THINGS, ONE RIGID GENDER ROLES
AND GENDER INEQUITY -- AN
ANECDOTE TO THE ABUSE OF POWER
IS EQUITABLE RELATIONSHIPS AND
SHARED POWER. THREE , IT WILL
TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER
TO TRULY STOP GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE IN ARCHIMEDES . LAST
YEAR WAS THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF
THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT
, BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION PASSED
IN 1994 THAT CREATED A UNIFIED
NATIONAL RESPONSE WITH DEDICATED
RESOURCES AND FUNDING FOR
SURVIVOR SERVICES . I WAS JUST
13 YEARS OLD IN RURAL TENNESSEE
IN 1994, BUT I WAS IN MY 30s AND
WORKING AT A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ORGANIZATION
SUPPORTING SURVIVORS WHEN THE
2013 INCLUSIVE BILL WAS PASSED
IN CONGRESS WHICH INCLUDED
SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS FOR
IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS , INCREASE
ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR NATIVE
AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN,
AND THAT A GENDER IDENTITY AND
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS PROTECTED
CLASSES FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE
OPPOSITION THAT IT WILL BE
PASSED IF YOU TAKE THOSE GROUPS
OUT, OUR MOVEMENT SAID
ABSOLUTELY NOT WE SUCCEEDED IN
PASSING THE INCLUSIVE ACT WHICH
IS THE LAW OF THE LAND TODAY.
THIS IS MORE THAN JUST STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS IT IS CENTRAL TO
OUR MISSIONS AND OUR VALUES.
VALUES THAT SAY , SOME SURVIVORS
HAVE WORSE OUTCOMES AND HIGHER
LIKELIHOOD OF ABUSE BECAUSE THE
SYSTEMS WITH RACISM AND SEXISM
VALUES THAT SERVE ALL SURVIVOR
DESERVE SAFETY AND DIGNITY AS
THEY HEAL FROM THE IMPACTS OF
ABUSE . I DECIDED TO SHARE THIS
HISTORY WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE I
THINK IT ILLUSTRATES THE CORE
VALUES OF OUR MOVEMENT AND IT
SHOWS A STARK CONTRAST TO WHERE
WE ARE NOW. WE ARE WITNESSING
FUNDAMENTAL ABUSES OF POWER AT
THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
AND THE CORE VALUES AND
INTEGRITY OF OUR COLLECTIVE WORK
TO STOP GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IS
UNDER THREAT. RECENT EXECUTIVE
ORDER DEFENDING WOMEN FROM
GENDER IDEOLOGY AND EXTREMISM IS
ESSENTIALLY DESCRIBING
PATRIARCHAL VALUES AND
ENCOURAGING DISCRIMINATION AND
IT ESTABLISHES A BINARY OF TWO
DISTINCT SECTIONS , MALE AND
FEMALE, TEMPS TO ERASE THE
CONCEPT OF GENDER AND VILIFIES A
GENDER IDENTITY ALL IN THE NAME
OF DEFENDING WOMEN HOOD. OVER
THE LAST SIX MONTHS, NOTICES OF
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WERE
SUDDENLY REMOVED AND REPOSTED
WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW SET OF
REQUIREMENTS REQUIRING
APPLICANTS TO CERTIFY THE GRANT
FUNDS WILL NOT BE USED FOR OUT
OF SCOPE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
PROMOTING GENDER IDEOLOGY,
PROMOTING ILLEGAL DEI PROGRAMS
VIOLATING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
LAWS , AND ACTIVITIES THAT FRAME
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL
ASSAULT AS SYSTEMIC SOCIAL
JUSTICE ISSUES. THERE IS A LOT
TO SAY ABOUT THAT, EVEN THAT
LAST BULLET POINT, ALL OF THEM ,
I DO NOT HAVE A TON OF TIME TO
GO INTO THAT BUT I WILL GO IN
FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THIS
ISSUE. I DID WANT TO NOTE, AS
MARISSA SHARED, THE MOST RECENT
FEDERAL BUDGET REQUEST FOR 2026
PROPOSES $120 INTRODUCTION TO
THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR
OUR LOCAL GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
PROGRAMS IN SEATTLE? ON THIS
SLIDE, THESE ARE ALL OF THE
MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS PART OF OUR
COALITION . THEY DO INCREDIBLE ,
PROFOUND WORK EVERY DAY
SUPPORTING SURVIVORS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. A MAJORITY OF
PROGRAMS , INCLUDING THE
COALITION , RELY ON FEDERAL
FUNDING, WHETHER THROUGH VAWA ,
THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT, RATHER
PASS-THROUGH FUNDS TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF SURVIVORS IN OUR
COMMUNITY. EVEN WITH THAT, IN
KING COUNTY , IN THE LAST FOUR
YEARS MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
RELATED DEATHS THAN THE PREVIOUS
10 YEARS COMBINED . WITH 135
MENTALITIES FROM 2020 TO 2024
ALONE AND STATEWIDE WASHINGTON
HAS A HIGHER PREVALENCE OF BOTH
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT BUT OUR FUNDING --
EXCUSE ME, HIGHER PREVALENCE
THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BUT WE
CONTINUE TO SEE OUR FEDERAL
FUNDING BE CUT. MOST NOTABLY,
SINCE 2018, THE SUPPORT OF
VICTIMS OF CRIME OF ALL TYPES
NOT JUST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT, IT HAS BEEN CUT
BY OVER 75% IN WASHINGTON. THESE
HARMFUL RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDING
COMBINED WITH THE EXECUTIVE
ORDERS ARE FORCING PROGRAMS TO
MAKE THE POSSIBLE CHOICES,
DENIED LIFE-SAVING SERVICES TO
IMMIGRANT AND LB GQ SURVIVORS,
OR BE CUT OFF FROM FUNDING AND
THE PROGRAMS HAVE TO SELF SELECT
OUT OF FUNDING BUT THEY WOULD
NORMALLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR BECAUSE
OF THIS IMPASSE . ADDITIONALLY,
SOME PROGRAMS ARE GETTING THE
CURIOUS POSITION OF BEING OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH VAWA AND
CONGRESS IF THEY APPLIED . SINCE
THOSE LAWS ARE STILL STANDING .
IF THEY OPT OUT OF APPLYING FOR
A GRANT, THEY LOSE SOME CRITICAL
FUNDING FOR SERVICES THAT
SURVIVORS RELY ON , BUT IF THEY
MAKE THE REQUESTED VACATIONS,
THEY WILL EXPOSE THE
ORGANIZATIONS TO LEGAL AND
FINANCIAL RISKS . IN FACT, THERE
IS A GROUP OF 17 STATE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
COALITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT ABOUT
THIS VERY ISSUE THAT WE ARE
WAITING TO HEAR HOW THAT GOES.
ALL OF THIS WILL IMPACT THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR LOCAL
PROGRAMS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF
SERVICE TO VICTIMS AND
SURVIVORS. HOW DO WE MOVE
FORWARD FROM HERE? I DO NOT
PRETEND TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS
. EVERY SURVIVOR OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE FACES UNIQUE RISKS AND
SAFETY CONCERNS AS THEY RESIST
ABUSE. AND SO TOO ARE WE AS A
MOVEMENT AND INDIVIDUAL
ORGANIZATIONS FACING THESE RISKS
AND SAFETY CONCERNS RIGHT NOW I
BELIEVE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
MOVEMENT SHOULD PLAY A VITAL
ROLE IN THIS MOVEMENT. WE KNOW
THAT A PRIMARY HARM OF ABUSE IS
AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE AWAY AGENCY
AND SELF-DETERMINATION WE ALL
NEED TO REMEMBER OUR OWN AGENCY
RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT THAT WE
ALWAYS HAVE CHOICES AND WHAT WE
DO MATTERS . ABUSE SAYS NOTHING
YOU DO MATTERS , YOU ARE SMALL,
WE KNOW IT MATTERS AND EMBRACE
AN EXPANSIVE VIEW OF GENDER WE
KNOW IT MATTERS WHEN WE SAY THAT
ALL SURVIVORS , REGARDLESS OF
IMMIGRATION STATUS, DISABILITY,
GENDER IDENTITY, OR SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, DESERVE SAFETY AND
DIGNITY . WE KNOW IT MATTERS
WHEN WE MOVED TO THE WORLD
STANDING FIRM IN OUR VALUES. AS
A COALITION, THIS IS WHAT WE
ENDEAVOR TO DO ON BEHALF OF OUR
MEMBERSHIP. THIS IS ALSO WHAT WE
NEED FROM OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
, STRONG AND AUTONOMOUS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO HELP INSULATE OUR
COMMUNITIES AND OUR VALUES ON
THE ENCROACHMENT OF ABUSES OF
POWER . STRONG AND STABLE AND
FAIR REVENUE CAN HELP. IT IS
WONDERFUL TO HEAR ALL THE
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE SAME
ROLE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN
PLAY. IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US AT
AN EVER WIDENING COALITION AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK TOGETHER. I DEEPLY
APPRECIATE THE TIME TO TALK WITH
YOU TODAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH
YOU THIS MORNING. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
PRESENTATION. COLLEAGUES , ANY
QUESTIONS ON THIS PRESENTATION?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
>> I WILL CHANGE MY TUNE AND
JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
WORK YOU ARE MAKING AN IMPACT ON
SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES, PLEASE
, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO SUPPORT
YOU IN THIS WORK AND I THANK YOU
FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS . I APPRECIATE IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> IF YOU COULD PUT THE LAST
SLIDE UP, I WANT TO NOTE THE
ARRAY OF GROUPS THAT ARE LISTED,
MANY I HAVE MET WITH IN MY
OFFICE OR OUT IN THE FIELD, I
APPRECIATE THE WORK AND I
APPRECIATE THE , YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT PIECES THAT THEY DO,
BASED ON THEIR MISSION SETS AND
COMING TOGETHER. I HAVE NOT BEEN
TO ALL OF THEM, TO THOSE I HAVE
BEEN TO , THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK . I THANK YOU FOR HOSTING
ME. SHOWING THE WORK YOU HAVE
DONE. IT IS REALLY HELPFUL .
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY .
>> I WILL GIVE FOLKS A MOMENT TO
THINK WHILE I ASKED ABOUT THE
PRESENTATION, HONING IN ON ONE
POINT YOU RAISED, WASHINGTON IS
AT A HIGHER PREVALENCE THAN THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE DID I HEAR THAT
CORRECTLY AND COULD YOU EXPAND?
>> YES , AS SOME OF THE WORK,
THAT IS CORRECT, SOME OF THE
WORK THAT OUR STATEWIDE
COALITION WAS DOING TO PROTECT
THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT FUNDING
, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT
EMERGED ON THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS,
THE HIGHER RATE STATEWIDE OF
PREVALENCE AND THE NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR VICTIMS
OF CRIME AND GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE AND WHY IT IS SO STARK,
WE HAVE SEEN SUCH SIGNIFICANT
CUTS THROUGH THE VOCA FUNDS
BEING REDUCED. I AM HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP WITH MORE THROUGHOUT
STATE COALITION.
>> I AM CURIOUS THE NUMBERS
ATTACHED TO THOSE . DO YOU HAVE
THOSE?
>> I DO NOT BUT I AM HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
THEM.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO KNOW .
I HAVE TWO OTHER POINTS. A BROAD
COMMENTARY, HAVING WORKED IN THE
HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND
THE CLEAR INTERSECTION OF WORK
AROUND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND
PEOPLE ACTIVELY FLEEING IN A
NUMBER OF CASES, LEADING TO LOOK
TO HOMELESSNESS . I HAVE COME TO
UNDERSTAND , OF COURSE, THE
CONCERN THAT , AS WE CUT SOCIAL
SERVICES, THIS FURTHER EMPOWERS
ABUSERS OR THOSE CAUSING HARM ,
MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO
LEAVE A DANGEROUS SITUATION .
HOW HAVE YOU , AS WORKING IN
THIS BODY OF WORK, HOW HAVE YOU
COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT DYNAMIC
AND DO WE HAVE DATA THAT
SIGNIFIES HOW ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
IT CAN LEAD TO SUBSEQUENT
SITUATIONS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE ? WHAT KIND OF DATA DO
WE HAVE OR IS THERE A
CORRELATION YOU CAN SHARE?
>> SUCH A GREAT QUESTION, THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK . A TON
OF DATA THAT SHOWS HOMELESSNESS
IS THE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IS
A LEADING CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS
AMONG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
WOMEN THAT ARE FLEEING ABUSE. WE
KNOW THAT ANYTHING THAT IS IN
THE FOUNDATION, IN CONDITIONS
THAT SURVIVORS ARE NAVIGATING ,
THE SYSTEM OF DEPRESSION ,
ECONOMIC INJUSTICE , POVERTY ,
WE KNOW SO MANY OF THOSE THINGS
ARE POWER IMBALANCES THAT ARE
REFLECTED IN OUR SOCIETY , THOSE
POWER IMBALANCES ARE THE EXACT
THINGS THAT FOLKS WHO ARE
ABUSIVE OR CAUSING HARM, THEY
CAN USE AND LEVERAGE THAT POWER
IMBALANCE TO CONTINUE TO FURTHER
HARM PEOPLE. ANY KIND OF LACK OF
ACCESS TO RESOURCES, WHEN
SURVIVORS ARE STRUGGLING, TO PAY
BILLS THE STRUGGLING TO MEET THE
BASIC NEEDS, THAT MEANS -- THAT
MAKES IT ALL THE MORE EASIER TO
EXPLOIT THEM OR HAVE POWER OVER
THEM. THERE IS SOME HELPFUL DATA
ON A LOT OF THESE AREAS AROUND
THE ABILITY TO FINANCIAL
EMPOWERMENT AND THE NEED FOR
STABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE
ECONOMIC ISSUES YOU ARE POINTING
TO , THROUGH MUCH OF THE HOUSING
FIRST DATA, THAT SPEAKS TO THE
INTERSECTION OF HOMELESSNESS AND
HOUSING, AND SURVIVORS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. THAT IS
MEANINGFUL DATA , AND RESEARCH
THAT HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON
STATE AND BY THE WAY ON MUCH OF
THE NATIONAL RESPONSE TO
ADVERTISING HOUSING FIRST FOR
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I WOULD POINT YOU TO THAT DATA.
AND ADDITIONALLY FOLLOW UP MORE
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY LAST
QUESTION, FOR ANY SURVIVOR WHO
MAY BE LISTENING, ANYONE WHO IS
SEEKING SUPPORT OR HELP , OR
KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS SEEKING
SUPPORT AND HELP, WHAT ADVICE
WOULD YOU GIVE THEM? IS THERE A
NUMBER THEY SHOULD CALL, WHAT
WOULD YOU WANT TO SEND TO THEM
AS A MESSAGE?
>> THANK YOU . I THINK THAT I
WOULD POINT THEM TO ALL THE
MEMBER PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT OUR
COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT SURVIVORS.
THERE IS A REGIONAL HOPE LINE
THAT IS 24/7, MULTIMODAL AND
MULTILINGUAL CHAT, THAT IS
HOUSED BY NEW BEGINNINGS AND
THERE ARE SO MANY CULTURALLY
SPECIFIC SUPPORTS AND PROGRAMS
FOR PEOPLE , PROGRAMS SUPPORTING
QUEER AND TRANS SURVIVORS SO I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO
THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE THAT UNDERSTAND ABUSES
OF POWER AND CAN HELP POINT
PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT RESOURCES
AND GET THEM CONNECTED . AT THE
END OF THE DAY, SUPPORT THEIR
OWN EFFORTS AND ON
SELF-DETERMINATION FOR WHAT THEY
KNOW THEY NEED, FOR SAFETY THEY
MAYBE TRY TO ACCESS.
>> IF THERE ARE NOT ADDITION
QUESTIONS ON THIS PRESENTATION,
I WILL MOVE US ALONG IN THE
AGENDA. NOW, WE WILL TURN IT TO
OUR FINAL PRESENTATION FOR
TODAY, AND HEAR FROM DIRECTOR
GRUB FROM THE UNIVERSITY FOOD
BANK
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION THIS
MORNING. MY NAME IS JOE GRUBER
AND I HAVE SERVED IN MY CAPACITY
FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. WE BEGAN
OUR CONVERSATION TODAY ABOUT THE
IMPACTS OF THE POLICY AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL , MAY PROVIDE SOME
CONTEXT TO HELP SET THE STAGE
FOR WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING . THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT FOOD BANK IS
ONE OF OVER 30 FOOD BANKS ACROSS
THE CITY FROM OUR WORK IS
FOCUSED ON REDUCING AND
ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO FOOD
ACCESS AND CONNECTING OUR
CUSTOMERS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES
THAT PROMOTE STABILITY IN THEIR
LIVES. WE DO THAT THROUGH A
VARIETY OF PROGRAMS VERY SIMILAR
TO OTHER PROGRAMS ACROSS THIS
NETWORK WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT
PANTRIES AND PROVIDE HOME
DELIVERY SERVICE AND OFFER
WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAMS FOR
STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL . WE
OPERATE A ROOFTOP FARM , GROWING
PRODUCE FOR OUR OWN DISTRIBUTION
WE HAVE AN APPLE A DAY CAFE , WE
PROVIDE HOT MEALS TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND A COMMUNITY CONNECT
SERVICE WHERE WE HOPE TO CONNECT
INDIVIDUALS IN THE FOOD BANK TO
OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. LIKE
MANY OF OUR PEERS , WE ARE
SERVING AT RECORD LEVELS ACROSS
ALL OF OUR PANTRIES AND IN HOME
DELIVERY. WE HAVE CLOSED OUR
WAITING LIST FOR HOME DELIVERY
BECAUSE WE NOT PREDICT WHEN WE
WILL HAVE CAPACITY TO MEET THE
CUSTOMERS ON THE WAITING LIST.
FOR SOME CONTEXT, SINCE 2023, WE
HAVE SEEN AN 8% INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS BEING
SERVED AND 130% INCREASE IN THE
INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE SERVED IN
2023 AND 2024, THOUGH
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE
PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY HOUSEHOLDS
SEEKING ASSISTANCE TO OUR
PANTRY. THIS YEAR , WE ARE
BUSIER, 10% BUSIER THAN LAST
YEAR BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING
INSTEAD IS THE INCREASING NUMBER
OF CURRENT HOUSEHOLDS VISITING
US MORE FREQUENTLY THAN WE THINK
ABOUT THE DEPTH OF THEIR NEED
INCREASING. OR AS AN AVERAGE
MONTH OF SERVICE IS SOMETIMES
BETWEEN 10,000 AND 11,000
HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS OUR PANTRIES
AND HOME DELIVERY, +2000+ MEALS
IN OUR CAFE, AND 3000 THROUGHOUT
SCHOOL PARTNERS. RECORD LEVELS
BEYOND WHAT WE EXPERIENCED
DURING THE PANDEMIC. OUR FOOD
SUPPLY IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH
THIS INCREASE IN DEMAND. 50% OF
OUR FOOD WE DISTRIBUTE IS
DONATED . OUR PRIMARY SOURCE IS
FOOD LIFELINE AND THROUGH OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH
LOCAL BUSINESSES LIKE GROCERY
STORES. 50% IS PURCHASED . WE
SPENT $1.6 MILLION PURCHASING
FOOD LAST YEAR TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF OUR COMMUNITY. OUR DONATED
FOOD SUPPLY IS FLAT AT BEST AS
WE LOOK AT THINGS . WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT THE INTRODUCTION OF
AI INTO THE GROCERY STORE
CHAINS, AND THE RISING WHOLESALE
FOOD PRICES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED
DURING THE PANDEMIC. THINGS IN
THE GROCERY BUSINESS ARE
DIFFICULT AND WE SEE A FLAT OR
DECLINING SUPPLY FROM THOSE
GROCERY STORE HARDSHIPS. AS A
RESULT, OUR PURCHASED FOOD HAS
BECOME MORE IMPORTANT. I
MENTIONED THE INCREASE IN FOOD
SUPPLY COSTS , WE HAVE SEEN
ABOUT A 30% INCREASE IN THE FOOD
COSTS SINCE THE PANDEMIC. JUST
THROUGH INFLATION IN ADDITION TO
NEEDING TO PURCHASE MORE TO FILL
THE SHELVES. EGGS ARE A GREAT
EXAMPLE, IT HAS GONE FROM A
REGULAR PURCHASED ITEM TO A
SOMETIMES ITEM WITH SIGNIFICANT
SPIKES AND INCREASES OVER THE
WINTER PRICES MORE THAN
QUADRUPLED . THEY HAVE COME DOWN
SOME BUT STILL REMAIN LESS OF AN
ALWAYS FOOD AND I WAS SOMETIMES
FOOD FOR US AND OUR SHOPPERS.
WITH RESPECT TO OUR SHOPPERS ,
OUR CUSTOMERS, DATA POINTS FROM
OUR SURVEYS THAT ARE IMPORTANT
TO CONSIDER THE 20% TO 25% OF
CUSTOMERS ARE NOT HOUSED , BUT
50% OF OUR CUSTOMERS REPORT
CONCERN ABOUT THEIR HOUSING
STABILITY. PEOPLE IN HOUSING
TODAY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY
CONCERNED ABOUT REMAINING IN
THEIR HOUSING GOING FORWARD. 80%
OF OUR CUSTOMER FAMILIES REPORT
A HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF $30,000 OR
LESS PER YEAR, OUR AVERAGE
FAMILY SIZE IS 2.5 TO 3.5
PERSONS, UW SELF-SUFFICIENCY
STANDARD FOR ONE PERSON IS
$52,000 PER YEAR. OUR FAMILIES ,
THAT IS FOR A PERSON ONE, OUR
FAMILIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY COST
BURDEN . 17% OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS
ARE THREE OR MORE GENERATIONS.
FOR ME, WE HAVE SEEN THAT
STATISTIC MORE THAN DOUBLED IN
THE LAST 10 YEARS, BOTH FAMILIES
HAVING OLDER ADULTS MOVE IN WITH
THEM, AND OLDER PARENTS HAVING
THEIR GIVES ME BACK TO MAKE
THINGS WORK. 10% OF OUR
CUSTOMERS ARE RETIRED AT 10%
HAVE DISABILITY INCOME AND 50%
WORKING AT LEAST PART-TIME BUT
TWO THIRDS OF THOSE RECOGNIZED
THEIR HOURS ARE NOT STABLE , AS
WE LOOK AT THE INCREASING WORK
REQUIREMENTS WE ARE SEEING IN
THE ADMINISTRATION . 45% TO 50%
OF OUR CUSTOMERS RECEIVE
S.N.A.P. , WE KNOW THAT , OF THE
PEOPLE POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE , A
70% SUCCESS RATE. GETTING THEM
TO PURCHASE THE. THERE IS STILL
A GAP BUT IT WILL BE MADE MORE
DIFFICULT BY THE ACTIONS OF THE
ADMINISTRATION . 80% OF OUR
CUSTOMERS GET AT LEAST HALF OF
THEIR FOOD FROM THE FOOD BANK.
AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FOOD
SUPPLY AND SUPPORT FAMILIES HAVE
IN OUR COMMUNITY, SIGNIFICANTLY
SCARY PIECE OF INFORMATION. AS
WE THINK ABOUT THE POLICY
CHANGES WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN IN
2025, YOU HEARD FROM OUR PEERS
PREVIOUSLY , ABOUT THE IMPACTS
OF THE S.N.A.P. CUTS, SORRY, THE
OTHER CUTS THAT ARE GOING TO THE
EMERGENCY SYSTEM, FEDERAL
COMMODITY FOOD, FOOD LIKE FUND
ESTIMATES , IN KENT COUNTY,
THESE CUTS WILL BE ABOUT 63 --
TRUCKLOADS OF FOOD TO KING
COUNTY AND FISCAL YEAR 2025 ,
ABOUT $4.2 MILLION OF LOST FOOD
COMING INTO THE COUNTY THAT
WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO PARTNER
FOOD BANKS. IF WE TRY TO
ESTIMATE AS BEST AS WE CAN ,
THAT IS ABOUT A 250,000 TO
$300,000 LOSS OF COMMODITY
PRODUCT. THAT PRODUCT OFTENTIMES
IS EGGS , MEAT AND DAIRY AND
PRODUCE , HIGH DEMAND ITEMS THAT
CUSTOMERS ARE INTERESTED IN WHEN
THEY VISIT A PANTRY. THAT IS
FOOD WE WILL NOT BE RECEIVING
FOR THE PROGRAM. AS WE THINK
ABOUT THE POLICY IMPACT OF THE
ADMINISTRATION'S ONE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL , ONE THING I
WOULD WANT TO POINT OUT, IF YOU
HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO READ
THE GUEST ESSAY BY TRACY KIDDER
IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, I WOULD
URGE YOU TO READ IT, ENTITLED "A
NEW ERA OF HUNGER HAS BEGUN. HE
HUMANIZES THIS ISSUE WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF OUR CURRENT POLICY BY
THE FEDS. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL , THERE
ARE TWO NUMBERS RELATED TO
S.N.A.P. THAT STAND OUT I WANT
TO CALL OUT . THE FIRST IS THAT
ONE DOLLAR OF S.N.A.P. BENEFIT
RATES UP TO $1.80 IN ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY TO A COMMUNITY . THE
SECOND, FOR EVERY ONE MEAL
PROVIDED BY A FOOD BANK,
S.N.A.P. PROVIDES NINE. HUNGER
IS A SYMPTOM OF ECONOMIC
INSECURITY AND FAMILIES TRYING
TO SURVIVE IN SEATTLE ON $30,000
PER YEAR ARE LEFT WITH A BIG
TASK AS A SAFETY NET IS BEING
DESTROYED BY DEMONSTRATION, OUR
FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS WILL
SUFFER. RENT, UTILITIES,
HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, MEDICINE,
FOOD, WILL NEED TO BE BALANCED
OR REALISTICALLY TRADED OFF .
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EVERY DAY
THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE WITH
OUR CUSTOMERS , THINKING ABOUT
HOW YOU BALANCE THE NEED TO
REPAIR YOUR AUTOMOBILE SO THAT
YOU CAN HOLD ONTO A PART-TIME
JOB AGAINST THE NEED TO PAY FOR
MEDICINE , OR PURCHASE NEW
CLOTHES FOR YOUR KIDS. WITH
S.N.A.P. , THERE IS TIME FOR US
TO CONSIDER IMMEDIATELY, OCTOBER
1st 2026 OCTOBER 1st, 2027 .
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL WAITING
ON USDA GUIDANCE TO UNDERSTAND
HOW EVERYTHING WILL PLAY OUT.
WHEN THAT IS RELEASED, I THINK A
SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
WILL BE SET INTO MOTION IN
IMMEDIATELY. WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF WORK
REQUIREMENTS AND TIME LIMITS ,
INCREASED RESTRICTIONS ON
PARTICIPATION IN S.N.A.P. THE
REDUCTION IN S.N.A.P. AND IF
IT'S IN OCTOBER, THAT IS ONE
POINT, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE
WORK REQUIREMENTS , RAISING OF
THE AGE THROUGH 64, SO MANY OF
OUR CUSTOMERS ALREADY REPORT
DIFFICULTY IN BOTH FINDING JOBS
, AND KEEPING STEADY NUMBER OF
HOURS EACH WEEK. IF YOU ARE NOT
RECEIVING STABLE WORK, DIFFICULT
TO MEET THE WORK REQUIREMENTS
AND THAT IS AN EXTRA BURDEN
PLACED ON PARTICIPANTS IN
SEATTLE. EXEMPTIONS FOR VETS,
AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH ARE
BEING ELIMINATED AS FAR AS
PARTICIPATION IN S.N.A.P. ,
CHANGES THAT WILL INCREASE THE
BURDEN FOR PARTICIPANTS AND
INCREASED THE ADMINISTRATIVE
RISK . FINALLY , THINKING ABOUT
THE THRIFTY FOOD PLAN , THE
BASIS FOR BENEFITS GOING
FORWARD, NOT ONLY THE
ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING TO
FREEZE HOW THAT BASKET OF GOODS
IS CONSIDERED THAT WILL CONTINUE
TO KEEP BENEFITS LOW. MORE
ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES MAKE FOR
HARDER REPORTING. WHICH LOWERS
THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS FOR
S.N.A.P. , AND INCREASES THE
LIKELIHOOD OF STATE REPORTING
ERRORS. OCTOBER 1st , 2026 , THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COST YEAR FOR
S.N.A.P. WILL INCREASE FROM
50-50 SHARED WITH THE STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO 75-25 THE
STATE IS BEARING 75% OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COST FOR S.N.A.P.
STARTING IN OCTOBER OF 2026 . IF
A STATE CANNOT AFFORD THAT
INCREASE, THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO
STEP AWAY FROM THE PROGRAM
ENTIRELY. OCTOBER OF 2027 , THE
BENEFIT COST SHIFT WILL HAPPEN
AT S.N.A.P., WHEREBY STATES WITH
INCREASED RATES ABOVE 6%, WILL
PAY 5% TO 15% OF THE S.N.A.P.
COSTS , THE S.N.A.P. ERROR RATES
ARE WASTE AND FRAUD AND ABUSE ,
IT IS REALLY ABOUT MAKING THE
RULES MORE COMPLEX IN WAYS THAT
ALLOW A STATE TO OVERPAID OR
UNDERPAID PARTICIPANTS , OR NOT
MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS IN A TIMELY
WAY WHEN WE LOOK AT WASHINGTON
STATE , OUR ERROR RATE , LAST
YEAR WAS 6.06%, JUST ABOVE THE
6% THRESHOLD . IF WE WERE TO GET
A LOOK AT WHAT THE COST WOULD BE
FOR 5%, $130 MILLION OF
ADDITIONAL COSTS OUR STATE WOULD
BE BURDENED WITH. JUST BECAUSE
OF THE .06% EXTRA ERROR RATE,
FROM THE 535 PARTICIPATING
HOUSEHOLDS ON S.N.A.P..
WASHINGTON STATE ALSO HAS A
PROGRAM CALLED FOOD ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DO
NOT QUITE QUALIFY FOR S.N.A.P.
BUT THE STATE THINGS ARE
IMPORTANT TO GET THE FOOD
BENEFIT. HIS ABILITY TO SUSTAIN
THAT PROGRAM WILL BE CALLED INTO
QUESTION AS WASHINGTON STATE IS
ASKED TO BEAR MORE AND MORE OF
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND
POTENTIALLY SOME OF THE PROGRAM
COSTS. RETURNING TO MY NUMBERS
FROM A MOMENT AGO, ONE DOLLAR OF
S.N.A.P. CAN BE TO $1.80 A LOCAL
, ACTIVITY IN WASHINGTON STATE
AND SEATTLE HAVE DONE AMAZING
JOBS IN PROMOTING THE S.N.A.P.
MATCH PROGRAM AND CREATING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
INCREASE THE PURCHASING POWER OF
THEIR S.N.A.P. DOLLARS AT
FARMERS MARKETS AND GROCERY
STORES TO APPROVE HOW MANY
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THEY ARE
ABLE TO GET. MORE THAN THREE
QUARTERS OF $1 MILLION WAS SPENT
WITH S.N.A.P. AND MATCH, AT OUR
SEATTLE BOMBERS MARKETS LAST
YEAR. S.N.A.P. PURCHASES PRESENT
60% OF THE INCOME FOR PRODUCERS
IN THESE MARKETS. WE KNOW THOSE
PRODUCERS ARE PRIMARILY MORE
IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR .
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ACTORS IN
OUR FOOD SYSTEM . WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT SOME OF THE DOWNSTREAM
IMPACT OF THESE S.N.A.P. CUTS,
LESS FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FOR
OUR CUSTOMERS, LESS MARKET
ACTIVITY FOR OUR FARMERS
MARKETS, AND A BIGGER FOOD
SYSTEM IMPACT FOR THOSE GROWING
OUR FOOD LOCALLY. WITH RESPECT
TO THE NINE S.N.A.P. MEALS FOR
EVERYONE TO MEAL , HARD TO
PREDICT HOW DEEPLY THOSE CUTS
WILL IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE
NETWORK OF FOOD BANKS IN OUR
CITY . HERE IS ONE ANALOGY I CAN
OFFER, DURING COVID , WE
INCREASED S.N.A.P. BENEFITS FROM
WE HAD ENHANCED S.N.A.P., IN
MARCH OF 2023 , THOSE BENEFITS
EXPANDED -- THOSE EXPANDED
BENEFITS STOPPED AT A LOSS OF
ABOUT $90 PER MONTH FOR A PERSON
ON AVERAGE. IN MARCH OF 2023,
THE MONTH THE ENHANCED BENEFITS
EXPIRED FROM OUR FOOD BANK
EXPERIENCED A 1500 HOUSEHOLD
INCREASE IN BUSINESS JUST THAT
MONTH . WE WENT FROM ABOUT $7500
TO 9000 HOUSEHOLDS VISITING US.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE SERVED AT
RECORD LEVELS. SHE HIGHLIGHTED
S.N.A.P. PRODUCTIONS ARE COMING
IN OCTOBER . WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT
THAT IMMEDIATE IMPACT WILL BE ON
THE FOOD BANKS , BUT A
SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN S.N.A.P.
BENEFITS CERTAINLY TRANSLATES TO
A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FOOD
BANK VISITS. AS WE LAYER
INCREASED RESTRICTIONS , WORK
REQUIREMENTS, WE WILL SEE
FURTHER EROSION OF PARTICIPATION
IN S.N.A.P. AND A FURTHER
INCREASE IN FOOD BANK
PARTICIPATION. BEYOND DIRECT
CUTS, WE THINK THAT, WITH THE
COMPLICATIONS IN S.N.A.P. , WILL
LEAD AND SEE MORE PARTICIPANTS
AND OTHER IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
. S.N.A.P. IS OFTEN A TOOL BY
WHICH WE CAN CALL FOR OUR
CUSTOMERS, THROUGH COMMUNITY
CONNECTOR , INTO OTHER SERVICES,
THINKING ABOUT THE SCHOOL MEALS,
DISCOUNTED TRANSPORTATION
LIFELINE WIRELESS SERVICES OR
UTILITY DISCOUNTS, ENROLLMENT
AND MAINTENANCE -- IT BECOMES
HARDER, BOTH FOR CUSTOMERS AND
THE NETWORK SERVICE PROVIDERS
THAT THE CITY HELPS TO SUPPORT.
AS WE THINK ABOUT THE LESSONS WE
HAVE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC,
WE SAW A DECREASE IN POVERTY AND
A DECREASE IN CHILDHOOD HUNGER
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. HOW?
THROUGH AN INCREASE IN BENEFITS,
MORE MONEY FOR FOOD AND
CHILDCARE, INCREASED HOUSING
SUPPORT . WE HAVE SEEN HOW WE
CAN REDUCE POVERTY IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND HOW WE CAN REDUCE
CHILDHOOD HUNGER, BOTH OF WHICH
DO NOT LOOK LIKE THIS NOW SO,
FROM THE SCORCHED EARTH OF THIS
BILL , WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
THINK ABOUT ANSWERS FOR OUR
COMMUNITY RATHER THAN JUST
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
RESTORE WHAT IS BEING LOST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT THOROUGH
PRESENTATION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GRUBER. IT IS ASTONISHING.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON , YOU
HAD A HAND RAISED?
>> YES, THANK YOU. GOING BACK TO
YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU SAID 80%
OF YOUR CUSTOMERS USE FOOD
BANKS, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND
THAT, SHOULDN'T IT BE 100%?
>> REFERRING TO THE S.N.A.P.
DISSIPATION RATE?
>> YES.
>> RIGHT, WE WOULD LOOK AT
PARTICIPATION IN S.N.A.P. CAN BE
COMPLICATED FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS. WE THINK , THROUGH
SURVEYS , 50% OF OUR TOTAL FOOD
BANK CUSTOMERS ARE
PARTICIPATING, WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THOSE POTENTIALLY
ELIGIBLE, IT IS ABOUT 70%. YES,
THERE SHOULD BE MORE INDIVIDUALS
PARTICIPATING, BUT FOR A VARIETY
OF REASONS, PEOPLE OPT OUT OR GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS TO APPLY AND
BE CONSIDERED. THEY MAY OR MAY
NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT WE
HAVE COMMUNITY CONNECTORS
HELPING DO ENROLLMENTS. FOR US,
THAT IS A REGULAR BODY OF WORK,
WE ARE SIGNING FOLKS UP EACH
MONTH AND THERE IS -- ATTACHED
TO PARTICIPATING IN FOOD BANKS,
THE STIGMA, PARTICULARLY FOLKS
CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEIR
PARTICIPATION IN THAT PROGRAM
MAY OR MAY NOT PUT THAT AT A
GREATER RISK FOR OTHER SERVICES.
WE DEAL A LOT WITH CONCERNS FOR
BOTH, I AM ELIGIBLE , IF I AM
ELIGIBLE AND PARTICIPATE, WILL
IT HAVE A DOWNSTREAM IMPACT ON
MYSELF OR MY FAMILY? THAT WE MAY
OR MAY NOT WANT TO CONSIDER NOT
AS EASY AS, SURE, THIS A PROGRAM
WE SHOULD GET YOU SIGNED UP FOR
AND SOMEBODY WANTS TO SAY YES.
>> THAT IS THE PIECE I WAS
MISSING. YOU WERE SAYING 80% OF
S.N.A.P. REGISTRANTS USE A FOOD
BANK. THAT IS WHAT I WAS
MISSING. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION QUESTION.
COLLEAGUES , ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
?
>> THANK YOU , YOUR PRESENTATION
DEMONSTRATED FOOD BANKS DO NOT
JUST PROVIDE FOOD MENTAL ,
DENTAL , PHYSICAL HEALTH , FOOD
CAFE TO HAVE A MEAL, OPENED AT
10:00 A.M., I BELIEVE , EVERY
DAY . THE CLIENTS ARE NOT
NECESSARILY -- SO MANY THINGS
THEY NEED , FOOD IS ONE WAY TO
GET PEOPLE IN THE DOOR, HAVE
ACCESS TO SO MANY OTHER
SERVICES. I CALL IT THE TRIAGE
CENTER OF, WHAT DO WE NEED AND
HOW DO WE HELP YOU? THE FOOD
BANKS IS A MISNOMER THESE DAYS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND WE
WILL DO OUR BEST TO PROTECT YOU.
>> WE APPRECIATE THE CITY'S LONG
STANDING SUPPORT FOR THE WORK WE
DO AND VARIETY OF OTHER
RESOURCES YOU BRING ON SITE, FOR
SURE , IT IS ABOUT BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS AND BREAKING DOWN
BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONG-STANDING
PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON ?
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE TO SAY
THAT, THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE
PRESENTED TO US TODAY THE
PRESSES -- DEPRESSES ME , AND IT
ANGERS ME . I COULD GO ON A RANT
FOR A LONG TIME, AND, I AM ON
THE VERGE OF TEARS SO I'LL KEEP
THIS BRIEF . WHEN I FIRST GOT TO
THIS BODY AND BEING INTERVIEWED
FOR THIS ROLE, I REMEMBER THE
QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK , WITH THE POTENTIAL OF
LIVING CUTS , WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO ? I SAID, THEY CUT US OFF
, WE WILL FIND OUR OWN MONEY. I
STILL BELIEVE WE NEED TO FIND
OUR OWN MONEY TO PROTECT OUR
PEOPLE FROM THIS CRUELTY. I DO
NOT SEE HOW ANY OF THIS
EXPLETIVE IS MAKING AMERICA
GREAT. I SEE IT AS MAKING
AMERICA HUNGRY , MAKING AMERICA
SICK , MAKING AMERICA POOR, I AM
SORRY, I TOLD YOU I WAS NOT
GOING TO GO ON A RANT. THERE IS
ONLY SO MANY BUCKETS WE HAVE.
THAT WE CAN ACCESS. I SAY , WE
NEED TO FIND OUR OWN MONEY. THIS
IS WHERE I AM THINKING, STATE ,
WE NEED TO STEP UP. WE NEED AN
INCOME TAX AS OPPOSED TO THE
REGRESSIVE TAX STRUCTURE WE
CURRENTLY HAVE. THAT PUTS THE
BURDEN ON PROPERTY OWNERS, WHICH
PUTS THE BURDEN ON RENTERS, AND
THEN ON PEOPLE WHO BUY STUFF,
WHO ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED
BECAUSE , YOU KNOW, MY KID, A
PART-TIME BARISTA AT STARBUCKS,
PAYING A HIGHER PROPORTION OF
THEIR INCOME , WHEN THEY ARE
BUYING A POUND OF CHICKEN AT
SAFEWAY, NO FOOD TAX BUT YOU GET
THE POINT THEY MAKE $26,000 YEAR
AND ADVERSELY AFFECTED AS
OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY LIKE ME
MAKING QUITE A BIT MORE THAN
THAT. THIS IS WHY I SAY, WE NEED
TO COME UP WITH OUR OWN MONEY
AND , ON THE STATE LEVEL, WE
NEED TO -- WE -- WE JUST --
THERE IS SO MUCH LANGUAGE I WANT
TO USE BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE THIS
IS BEING RECORDED. WE NEED TO
STEP UP. WE NEED TO ACCEPT THE
REALITY THAT WE CANNOT COUNT ON
THE FENCE . NOT ONLY ARE THEY
CUTTING FUNDING, STRIPPING
FUNDING, THEY ARE STRIPPING
FUNDING ALREADY ALLOCATED . WE
HAVE OUR OWN BUDGET DEFICITS IN
THE CITY AND AROUND OUR STATE.
SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE AND WE
CANNOT KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT. WE
CANNOT KEEP KICKING THE CAN, WE
NEED TO TAKE ACTION BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST
PROGRAMS, BUT PEOPLE COME
INDIVIDUAL LIVES . I CAN GO ON.
I WILL STOP THERE. THANK YOU.
>> WELL SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON AND I AGREE. IT IS
REALLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE A
COUPLE POINTS I WANT TO RAISE TO
THIS. I WANT TO START WITH A
QUESTION AS A REFRESHER, CAN YOU
REMIND US WHAT MAKES A HOUSEHOLD
ELIGIBLE FOR S.N.A.P.?
>> I WILL PROFESS TO NOT BEING A
S.N.A.P. ENROLLMENT EXPERT , AND
INTERSECTION BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD
SIZE, THE AGE OF THE
PARTICIPANTS, AND THEIR INCOME.
I THINK THAT IS THE BIG MARKER
AS TO WHAT THE INCOME OF THE
HOUSEHOLD IS RELATIVE TO THE
NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS . THAT IS
A SKILL THAT JUST CHANGES. THERE
ARE SOME -- THERE WERE MORE
EXEMPTIONS PROVIDED TO FOLKS, WE
HAVE CHOSEN , THROUGH THIS BILL
, TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE
EXEMPTIONS AND MAKE CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE,
REFUGEES, VICTIMS OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING , THOSE CATEGORIES
OF PARTICIPANTS HAD BEEN REMOVED
.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT . I HAVE A
COMPUTER IN FRONT OF ME BUT TO
PUT THIS IN FRONT OF YOUR MIND ,
COLLEAGUES, WHEN WE GIVE AN
EXAMPLE, HOUSEHOLD GROSS MONTHLY
INCOME MUST GENERALLY BE AT OR
BELOW 130% OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LINE , FOR A FAMILY OF
THREE THIS IS APPROXIMATELY
$2800 PER MONTH FOR FISCAL YEAR
2025 . I WANTED TO BRING UP ONE
EXAMPLE TO WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
S.N.A.P. ELIGIBILITY, HOW MUCH
MONTHLY GROSS INCOME , AND IT IS
NOT A LOT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS
TOWN. MOVING ALONG FROM THAT,
WITH THE CHANGES WITH THE NEW
EXPANDED WORKING REQUIREMENTS, I
WANT TO DAYLIGHT SOMETHING . ANY
MEMBER OF THE PANEL , I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHIME IN ON
THIS POINT. UNDERSTANDING THERE
ARE NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS BUT
SOME EXEMPTIONS BECAUSE OF
CAREGIVING OR MEDICAL
CONDITIONS, I IMAGINE TO SOME,
THAT MAY GIVE A SENSE OF EASE TO
MEDICAL CONDITIONS BUT WE ARE
ALSO TALKING ABOUT MAKING
HEALTHCARE IN THE SAME TIME,
MUCH MORE INACCESSIBLE AND IT
WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY
DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS AND
FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO GET A
DIAGNOSIS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO
KEEP THEM QUALIFIED FOR THESE
PROGRAMS. I WANTED TO OFFER THAT
CLARIFICATION AND CONCERN ,
THAT, FOR THESE EXPANDED WORK
REQUIREMENTS, EVEN WITH THESE
EXCEPTIONS, MEDICAL CONDITIONS,
ALMOST -- ONLY AS GOOD AS YOU
CAN GET AN ACTUAL DIAGNOSIS TO
SUPPORT THAT WITH PAPERWORK. ANY
REACTION TO THAT?
>> YES, ONE THING , ANYTHING A
TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PANEL
SOMETHING THAT ALIGNS WITH WHAT
YOU JUST DISCUSSED, THE HUMAN
SERVICES SYSTEM IS HOLISTIC. IT
IS NOT ABOUT FOOD BANKS , MEAL
PROGRAMS , HOMELESSNESS,
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE , HEALTH
CENTERS IN THEIR BUCKETS, WE
CANNOT FUND ONE AREA AT THE
EXPENSE OF OTHERS. WE CANNOT
PRIORITIZE. AS WE MOVE INTO CITY
BUDGET SEASON, THAT, YOU KNOW,
IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED, WHERE ARE
THE PRIORITIES ? THE PRIORITY IS
ALL OF IT, IF YOU DO NOT FUND
THE FOOD BANKS OR MEAL PROGRAMS,
WE WILL HAVE INCREASED
HEALTHCARE COSTS . IF YOU DO NOT
FUND HEALTHCARE , WE WILL HAVE
PEOPLE WHO CANNOT WORK AND LOSE
THEIR HOMES . NOW WE HAVE
HOMELESSNESS AS AN ISSUE . IF
YOU HAVE FOLKS ON THE STREETS,
YOU HAVE SUBSTANCE USE, EXPOSURE
TO MORE HEALTH FOR OUTCOMES, ALL
INTRICATELY LINKED. THERE IS NO
WAY TO PRIORITIZE ONE SECTOR
OVER ANOTHER , THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY CLEAR
, IF WE LOSE ONE AGENCY DOES NOT
MATTER WHAT SECTOR , IF WE LOSE
ONE AGENCY IN THE CITY, THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM WILL INCREASE THE
STRAIN ON THAT SYSTEM AND WE
WILL LOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THEY WILL END UP LOST, AND THAT
IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN PUT A
DOLLAR AMOUNT ON OR QUANTIFIED.
I ENCOURAGE THE APPROACH TO THIS
WORK TO BE SEEN AS SOMETHING
HOLISTIC, HSD MUST BE KEPT
WHOLE, INCREASE IN FUNDING MUST
HAPPEN ACROSS THE BOARD SO WE DO
NOT LOSE PRECIOUS COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
>> I ALMOST WANT TO END IT ON
THAT POWERFUL NOTE. I DEEPY --
DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU
DO AND PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS
THAT COULD NOT BE HERE, THE WORK
THEY DO EVERY DAY ,
UNDERSTANDING THE WORKLOAD IS
INCREASING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
INCREASING WORKLOAD, MORE OF OUR
NEIGHBORS ARE IN THE NEED . A
HAND FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> I AM SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF
MID-SENTENCE, IT HELPED ME TO
UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE PROBLEMS
WE HAVE STATED TODAY. I WONDER
IF THERE IS AN ESTIMATE ON
PERCENTAGE OR NUMBERS ,
PERCENTAGE OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS
THAT HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAID
BENEFITS THAT WILL NO LONGER
HAVE THEM BECAUSE OF THE NEW
REQUIREMENTS, DOES ANYBODY HAVE
A BALLPARK ON THAT ESTIMATE? MY
SECOND QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE THE
CHANGES TO THE S.N.A.P. PROGRAM
? IS IT IN ELIGIBILITY? FINALLY,
YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES,
THE HOUSING FIRST STUDY , DATA,
RESEARCH, COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE
ME A REFERENCE BECAUSE I WOULD
LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK I
GOT THE FIRST ONE WHILE MARISSA
LOOKS FOR INFO. DV HOUSING FIRST
IS A RESEARCH PROJECT THAT
WASHINGTON STATE LED AS PART OF
OUR WASHINGTON STATE COALITION ,
MANY LOCAL PROGRAMS ALL ACROSS
THE STATE IN SEATTLE
PARTICIPATED IN THE RESEARCH
STUDY AND IT FOUND THAT , BUT WE
ALL MAY KNOW, IT FOUND THAT THE
MORE WE CAN INCREASE HOUSING
STABILITY AND PAIR FINANCIAL
SUPPORT AND RESEARCH AND WITH
ADVOCACY, SURVIVOR DRIVEN
ADVOCACY , THAT RELATIONAL
CONNECTION IS THE SECRET SAUCE ,
MAKES THE DIFFERENCE FOR
SURVIVORS SAFETY , THEIR ABILITY
TO STAY HOUSED, SAFELY AND
STABLY , THAT RESEARCH IS VERY
STRONG, VERY LOCAL , MANY
PROGRAMS PARTICIPATED IN THAT
WITH FUNDING FROM THE BILL AND
MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION, IT HAS
SINCE BEEN PROMOTED AND USED FOR
OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY,
SEEN AS A MODEL PROTOCOL AND
APPROACH FOR GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE AND SURVIVORS , BUT
ALSO FOR HOUSING AS A CORE NEED
TO FOCUS ON HOUSING FIRST, THAN
LOOKING AT THE OTHER NEEDS FOLKS
MAY HAVE. GREAT DATA ABOUT THAT.
>> WASHINGTON STATE COALITION
AGAINST VIOLENCE , YOU SAID THE
NAME OF THE RESEARCH GROUP STUDY
IN THE BEGINNING , I DID NOT
CATCH IT.
>> WE CALL IT DV HOUSING FIRST
MODEL, I CAN SEND AN EMAIL WITH
DETAILS AND LINKS, THAT WOULD
MAKE IT EASIER . THAT IS THE
MAIN THING , IT HAD FUNDING,
MULTI-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT ,
QUITE A LOT TO IT, THE BILL AND
MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION FUNDED
SOME OF THE WORK IN THAT AREA
LOCALLY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON ,
YOUR FIRST QUESTION, I AM NOT AN
EXPERT ON COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS, THERE ONE OF OUR MEMBER
COALITIONS AND I WAS ASKED TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF WHAT THEY ARE
FACING TODAY. A LOT OF THE DATA
I RECEIVED IS FROM A REPORT THAT
I WILL SEND TO YOU . IT WAS DONE
BY SENATOR CANTWELL IN MARCH OF
2025 , LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY
THE MEDICAID CUTS AND HOW THEY
WILL THREATEN CL'S HEALTHCARE.
W SEATTLE'S HEALTHCARE.
MEDICAID FUNDED 22% OF INPATIENT
CARE, 18% OF OUTPATIENT CARE AT
HOSPITALS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON.
IN 2023 . WESTERN WASHINGTON
HOSPITAL SO 623,549 MEDICAID
PATIENTS IN 2023 . THAT IS
APPROXIMATELY 20% OF ALL CARE IN
WESTERN WASHINGTON HOSPITALS IS
TIED TO MEDICAID. IF THAT
PERCENTAGE , THEY EXPECT TO SEE
AT LEAST ONE THIRD OF CURRENT
ENROLLEES TO LOSE COVERAGE, ONE
THIRD OF 20% IS A PRETTY HIGH
NUMBER OF THE 650,000. AGAIN, I
WILL SEND YOU THIS REPORT WHICH
GOES INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE
MEDICAID EFFECTS ON OUR
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND THE
HOSPITAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WITH RESPECT TO THE S.N.A.P.
QUESTION, I CAN SEND TO THE
COMMITTEE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
CUTS WITH THE S.N.A.P. . WHEN WE
LOOK AT THE CHANGES THEY ARE
MULTIFACETED , ONE IS AROUND
ADDING ADDITIONAL BURDEN TO THE
STATES , WITH THE INTENT TO
DRIVE THOSE STATES FROM
SUPPORTING S.N.A.P. WITHIN THEM
. THERE IS THE ADMIN COST SHARE
THAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2026 AND THE
ACTUAL BENEFITS COST SHIFTING IN
2027. BASED OFF OF ERROR RATES,
THAT IS AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR
COST WILL INCREASE, MORE
IMMEDIATELY WITHIN THE S.N.A.P.
PROGRAM ITSELF, WE WILL SEE AN
INCREASE IN THE WORK
REQUIREMENTS , YOU HAVE TO BE
THROUGH 64 AND PARTICIPATING IN
WORK OVER 20 HOURS PER WEEK , IF
YOU ARE AN ABLE-BODIED ADULT .
SOME OF THE EXEMPTIONS TO THIS
ARE ELIMINATED FOR VETS,
HOMELESS , AND FORMER FOSTER
YOUTH, SOME OF THE CATEGORIES IN
PARTICIPATION FOR S.N.A.P. WILL
REMAIN, REFUGEES AND VICTIMS OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARE NO LONGER
BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE ELIGIBLE
FOR S.N.A.P. THE BENEFITS ARE
BEING FROZEN THROUGH THE THRIFTY
FOOD -- FOR THAT, REDUCING WHO
IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
S.N.A.P., MAKING THEIR
PARTICIPATION HARDER TO
CONTINUE, AND REDUCING THE
AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR FOLKS
THROUGH THE S.N.A.P. PROGRAM
WHEN THEY DO PARTICIPATE . I CAN
SEND AN EMAIL.
>> THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE QUESTIONS
, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE
APPRECIATE THAT. IF THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE ARE
COMING UP ON TIME , I HEARD A
FEW ADJECTIVES SAID THROUGHOUT
THIS MEETING, WHETHER IT BE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS SAYING
THIS IS REALLY BAD , TO , THIS
IS OVERWHELMING OR SOME DESIRE
TO SAY EXPLETIVES, WHICH I
SHARE, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
ALL THOSE FEELINGS ARE VALID
WITH WHAT WE ARE FEELING AND IF
IT FEELS THAT WAY TO US, I CAN
ONLY IMAGINE THE MANY MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITY TRYING TO NAVIGATE
THESE SYSTEMS AND CHANGES . ARE
HAVING THEIR LIVES THROWN INTO
JEOPARDY I CERTAINLY WANT TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE WORKING, NOT
JUST ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, TO
ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, BUT
WHAT WAS STATED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, PARTNERING WITH THE
STATE, NOT JUST HAPPENING IN
SEATTLE BUT ACROSS THE STATE, AS
REPRESENTATIVES OF SEATTLE, I
WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ACROSS
THE STATE ARE GETTING THE CARE
AND SUPPORT THEY NEED. SO, IT
WILL TAKE ALL OF US, I
APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE SAID, WORKING WITH
COUNTY, PARTICULARLY WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH , IT WILL BE CRITICAL WE
WORK WITH THEM AND TALK ABOUT
OUR NEIGHBORS DURING THE HEALTH
CARE THEY NEED THROUGH THESE
HEALTH CENTERS AND WE WILL NEED
TO WORK ACROSS A LOT OF LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE THESE
CHALLENGES . I WANT TO THANK
PEOPLE FOR ENGAGING IN THIS
CONVERSATION TODAY. WE WILL DO
OUR PART ON THE CITY LEVEL WHILE
PARTNERING WITH COUNTY AND STATE
TO ENSURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF
OUR NEIGHBORS. I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY TO
SHARE THIS CRITICAL INFORMATION.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE REACHED THE
END OF TODAY'S AGENDA, ANY
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE? NO. TAKE A
DEEP BREATH AND EAT SOMETHING
DELICIOUS, GET A GOOD NIGHT
SLEEP , WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED, IT IS 11:29 A.M.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.