APOLOGIES FOR NEEDING A FEW
MINUTES THERE TO GET OUR TECH.
ALL SET UP AND READY TO GO.
SO HAPPY TO SEE EVERYONE
HERE THIS EVENING.
THE APRIL 2nd, 2026, MEETING
OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
THE LIBRARY LEVY WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IT'S 5:35 P.M.
I'M MARITZA RIVERA,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
KOUP SILL MEMBER: KOUP SILL MEMBER
LIN?
HERE: HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK: COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
HERE: HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS: COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
HERE: HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER: COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
HERE: HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ: COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
HERE: HERE.
CHAIR RIVERA: CHAIR RIVERA.
PRESENT.
SEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS ARE: SEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
THANK YOU, CLERK.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING
TODAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC
AND ANYONE THAT IS JOINING US
ONLINE SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AS
PART OF
THIS -- AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS
AS PART OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
THESE HEARINGS ARE REALLY AN
IMPORTANT PART OF
OUR LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
ENGAGEMENT AND I AM REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
YOUR WORDS TODAY.
BEFORE WE START TODAY, I
WANTED TO QUICKLY RECAP THE
MAYOR'S
$410 MILLION LEVY
RENEWAL PROPOSAL, WHICH I
SUPPORT.
THIS PROPOSAL IS 50% LARGER THAN
THE 2019 LEVY.
THAT'S ON TOP OF ACCOUNTING FOR
INFLATION.
I HAVE RECEIVED SOME EMAILS,
AND, COLLEAGUES, YOU MAY HAVE
AS WELL, DESCRIBING THIS LEVY AS
STATUS QUO.
I'M NOT ALWAYS CERTAIN WHERE
CONSTITUENTS RECEIVE
INFORMATION AND WHAT IS OUT
THERE, BUT AS I
JUST CONFIRMED, THIS LEVY IS 50%
MORE THAN WHAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN THE STATUS QUO.
STATUS QUO WOULD HAVE BEEN
A BASELINE OF $219 MILLION PLUS
INFLATION.
BUT BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR
LIBRARIES, WE MADE SURE
THAT, DESPITE THE LEVY CAP, WE
HAD
A PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDED NEW
FUNDING. I'M RESTATING THIS
BECAUSE I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
CONSTITUENTS UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH
IS ACTUALLY IN THE PACKAGE.
I ALSO WANT TO ANSWER A QUESTION
THAT CAME UP IN
OUR SELECT COMMITTEE EARLIER
THIS WEEK ABOUT FUNDING TO
COMPLETE THE
HVAC SYSTEMS AT THE FIVE
BRANCHES THAT NEED COOLING.
THERE WAS CONFUSION AS
TO WHETHER OR NOT WE HAD A
GRANT FROM FEMA TO DO THE WORK.
I'M RELIEVED TO REPORT WE
DO HAVE A LETTER, WHICH
YOU RECEIVED TODAY,
COLLEAGUES, CONFIRMING THE GRANT
TO ADD
COOLING TO THESE
FIVE BRANCHES BY THE END OF NEXT
YEAR.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF MY
OVERALL CONCERN WITH GOVERNMENT
SPENDING AND MAKING DECISIONS
BASEDBASED
SPECULATION RATHER THAN REALITY.
THE REALITY IS WE HAVE A FEMA
GRANT.
AS TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR DEFERRED AND ONGOING
MAINTENANCE, THERE IS ALMOST
$86 MILLION IN THIS PROPOSAL FOR
THAT PURPOSE OF WHICH ALMOST
30 MILLION IS ACTUALLY NEW
FUNDING.
THE LIBRARY INDICATED THEY
WILL HAVE TO DO MORE WORK IN
FIVE TO
TEN YEARS BUT WE WILL HAVE A
LEVY RENEWAL IN SEVEN YEARS
WE CAN ADD MORE FUNDING TO.
AS WE DO WITH ALL LEVY
RENEWALS, WE ADD ADDITIONAL
FUNDING
EACH TIME TO DO MORE WORK.
ADDING THAT MONEY NOW
DIMINISHES OUR ABILITY TO
ADDRESS
PRESSING NEEDS TODAY.
AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING LIKE A
BROKEN RECORD, THIS IS A
SOLID PROPOSAL THAT NOT ONLY
ADDS BASELINE PLUS INFLATION BUT
50%
MORE ON TOP OF THAT.
WE NEED TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS
DEFENSIBLE TO OUR RESIDENTS
WHO ARE FOOTING THE BILL.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
AGENDA ITEM ONE, COUNCIL BILL
121181. AN ORDINANCE RELATE TO
GO REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES
PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO
THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE
CITY
AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON
AUGUST 4, 2026, OF A PROPOSITION
AUTHORIZING TO LEVY
PROPERTY TAXES UP TO SEVEN YEARS
IN EXCESS OF THE LIMITATION
ON LEVIES IN CHAPTER 84. 55 RCW
FOR
TECHNOLOGY, PROGRAMMING
AND MAINTENANCE WHILE
EXPANDING ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY
THROUGH LIBRARY MATERIALS,
TECHNOLOGY
AND UNDERTAKING A RETROFIT
OF ONE LIBRARY FACILITY
AND RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
THANK YOU, CLERK.
AS PRESIDING OFFICER, I'M NOW
OPENING THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 121181.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS
ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
CURRENTLY WE HAVE 30
IN- PERSON SPEAKERS AND
FIVE REMOTE SIGNED UP.
GIVEN THAT AND FOLLOWING: GIVEN THAT AND FOLLOWING
OUR COUNCIL RULES, EACH SPEAKER
WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE.
CLERK, I WILL NOW HAND THIS OVER
TO YOU TO PRESENT
THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THEN I
WILL READ THE NAMES FOR IN-
PERSON
SPEAKERS, AND WE WILL -- I
WILL LET YOU READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS.
I THINK YOU HAVE THAT.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL: THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL
BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL CONTINUE
UNTIL ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS
HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER THEY REGISTERED.
WE WILL START WITH TEN IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS AND ALTERNATE TO
REMOTE
SPEAKERS AND CONTINUE UNTIL ALL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS HAVE SPOKEN.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF
THEIR
TIME. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW
OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, CLERK.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ALL
THREE MICS ARE WORKING,
AND IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT --
I'M GOING TO
CALL A FEW AT A TIME, AND IF YOU
WANT TO QUEUE UP, THAT
MIGHT MAKE THE PROCESS RUN A
LITTLE MORE SMOOTHLY.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH KATHY
BENSON, THEN STEVE
DELVECCHIO, CHERYL HAMMEL AND
BRIAN LAWRENCE
AND KATIE -- SORRY, I CAN'T --
ROSIPE.
ALL RIGHT.
KATHY, WELCOME.
MY NAME IS KATHY BENSON,
AND I HAVE LIVED IN WEDGWOOD
SINCE
1990. I GO TO THE NORTHEAST
BRANCH
ABOUT TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK.
I WALK THERE.
I GO THERE AND EVERY TIME I
GO, IT BRINGS ME JOY.
IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO ME
TO FUND BOOKS, PROGRAMS AND
BUILDINGS BECAUSE I TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF SO MANY OF THE
SERVICES OF THE LIBRARY
AND WATCH PEOPLE AROUND ME DOING
THE
SAME THING.
I'M IN A BOOK CLUB.
SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT A
VERY, VERY LONG TIME TO GET THE
BOOK FOR OUR BOOK CLUB, SO I
WON'T
MIND IF WE HAVE A FEW
MORE COPIES OF SOME BOOKS.
I DON'T HAVE A TV, SO I
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MOVIES AND
TV SERIES THAT I CAN GET AT THE
LIBRARY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THE MEETING ROOMS.
I JUST FIND JOY, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHEN I WATCH A LITTLE KID
STEP UP ON THE STEP STOOL AND
CHECK
OUT HIS VERY OWN BOOKS.
AS A SEATTLE TAXPAYER, I WANT TO
SEE MORE
--
KATHY, I'M SORRY.
I'M ALMOST OUT OF TIME?
TIME IS UP: TIME IS UP.
MY TIME IS UP, OKAY.
PLEASE VOTE TO FUND ALL OF
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
BUT, KATHY, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR
REMARKS IN THE BOX, AND THEN
WE CAN SEE THE REST OF IT, IF
YOU'D LIKE.
ALL RIGHT.
STEVE DELVECCHIO, SHARON HAMMEL,
BRIAN LAWRENCE, KATIE AND JEN
SOUTHWELL.
WELCOME.
HI. MY NAME IS STEVE DELVECCHIO.
I LIVE IN WEDGWOOD.
I'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THE
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED
BY COUNCILMEMBERS FOSTER,
JUAREZ,
LIN, RINCK AND STRAUSS.
WITHOUT THEM, THIS LEVY WILL
NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE
OF
SEATTLE. I'VE BEEN A LIBRARY
USER
FOR OVER 65 YEARS.
I'VE
ALSO BEEN A LIBRARY VOLUNTEER
SUPPORTER AND WORKER
FOR MUCH OF THAT TIME.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A
REMARKABLE, UNIQUE AND
ALMOST MIRACULOUS SERVICE IN A
SOCIETY AND CULTURE THAT IS
LARGELY
DEFINED BY GREED, POWER
AND PROFIT FOR THE FEW.
THE LIBRARY IS DEFINED BY
LOVE AND GENEROSITY.
IT IS THE ONLY PLACE IN OUR
CITY WHERE ANYONE CAN GO
WITHOUT EXPLAINING OR
IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AND BE
WELCOMED.
IT IS A PLACE WHERE KIND,
CARING AND EXPERT WORKERS
WILL ENDEAVOR TO HELP YOU WITH
WHAT YOU WANT
OR NEED.
THIS WORK THAT LIBRARY WORKERS
DO IS EXTRAORDINARY.
IT ALSO IS DEMANDING, STRESSFUL
AND AT TIMES TRAUMATIZING.
MY PLEA IS YOU RECOGNIZE
THIS AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE
THE FUNDING FOR FRONTLINE
LIBRARY STAFF WITHOUT DEMANDING
AN INCREASE IN HOURS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, STEVE.
SHARON HAMMEL, BRIAN,
KATIE, DAVID STRAUSS.
HI, MY NAME IS SHARON
HAMMEL, AND I LIVE IN NOW BOB
KETTLE'S
DISTRICT.
I VOTED FOR
EDDIE. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
-- I
MOVED. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
SUPPORT
ALL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
IN THE LIBRARY LEVY.
I'M ESPECIALLY SUPPORTIVE OF
THE AMENDMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS
FOSTER, RINCK, LIN AND
STRAUSS TO SUPPORT LIBRARY
SPACES AND
EQUIPMENT.
YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO
YOUR SANITY TO BE IN A NICE
PLACE.
THE LIBRARY'S FEMA GRANT
UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
WILL HELP INSTALL AIR
CONDITIONING
AT BRANCHES, BUT THIS IS A ONE-
TIME AWARD THAT DOES NOT PAY FOR
THE FULL COST OF THE WORK.
WE'VE SEEN THAT IN THE LAST
LEVY.
FOR THE LIBRARY TO PROVIDE
ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND
UPGRADES FOR HVAC AND MAINTAIN
ALL OF
ITS PHYSICAL BUILDINGS IT
NEEDS CONSISTENT AND ONGOING
FUNDING.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
INCLUDE FOR A RETROFIT OF
WEST SEATTLE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO
THE
CHILDREN'S AREA.
THESE ARE ESSENTIAL.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SHARON.
BRIAN LAWRENCE, KATIE, JEN
SOUTHWELL, DAVID STRAUSS AND
GWEN. IF YOU WANT TO QUEUE UP,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU.
I'M BRIAN LAWRENCE.
MANY LEVY CONVERSATIONS
HAVE CENTERED AROUND DOLLAR
FIGURES AND LEVY CAPS, BUT ARE
WE MISSING THE POINT?
THE POINT IS THE PEOPLE.
THE 50 KIDS TAKING PART
IN SUMMER READING
CELEBRATION AT THE WEST SEATTLE
BRANCH.
I JOYFULLY ADVOCATE FOR
THAT BRANCH TO BE AS SAFE AS
POSSIBLE FOR THOSE KIDS.
THE PATRONS I MET FROM
ARGENTINA, MEXICO, CHINA
AND KOREA WHO GATHERED AT THE
BEACON HILL BRANCH FOR THEIR
ENGLISH
CONVERSATION CIRCLE, A
RETIRED TEACHER WITH LIMITED
INCOME,
THE HOURS OF ENJOYMENT SHE GETS
FROM LIBRARY BOOKS HELP KEEP HER
SANE
AND AWAY FROM THE DEPRESSING TV
NEWS.
AND THE TWO ENTREPRENEURS I
MET WHO WERE GETTING STEP-BY-
STEP
INSTRUCTIONS FROM TOP-
NOTCH LIBRARIANS
ON HOW TO START THEIR OWN
NONPROFITS.
THE LIBRARY IS THE BEST
INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE
IN CORE CITY SERVICES.
IT HAS DELIVERED VALUE FOR
DECADES, AND EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ALL AGES, FOR
ALL
BACKGROUNDS. THE AMOUNTS WE ARE
DEBATING
OVER SEVEN YEARS WILL NOT BREAK
OUR
CITY.
IN FACT, THEY'LL ENRICH OUR
CITY AND MAKE IT STRONGER.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, BRIAN.
KATIE -- I'M SO SORRY I'M
MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME,
I CAN'T READ.
I'M SUBBING IN FOR KATIE.
KATIE TOOK MY NUMBER 22 BECAUSE
I HAVE MY KID HERE AND SHE
LET ME GO FIRST BECAUSE SHE
LOVES
THE LIBRARY AND IS NICE.
SO YOU'RE SUSAN?
I AM: I AM
SUSAN.
HI, SUSAN.
WELCOME.
EVERYONE, MY NAME IS SUSAN
LU, THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR IN THE CID AND A LOCAL
AUTHOR. I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS
AMENDMENT
TO ADD TO THE LIBRARY
LEVY, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.
WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD,
MY MOTHER DIED FROM A BOTCHED
TUMMY TUCK, AND MY FAMILY NEVER
TALKED
ABOUT IT. AS CHILDREN OF
VIETNAMESE
IMMIGRANTS, WE DID NOT HAVE
THE TOOLS TO TALK ABOUT GRIEF OR
OUR FEELINGS, AND I WENT TO
THE SAFEST PLACE IN MY LIFE
WHICH WAS THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE BOOKS THERE OPENED ME UP
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD AND IT
LED ME TO THE CAMPUSES OF
HARVARD AND YALE AND EVENTUALLY
I DOCUMENTED MY JOURNEY WITH
INTERGENERATIONAL
HEALING, MY MEMOIR, THE
MARIJUANA NICURIST'S
DAUGHTER AND I'VE MET SO MANY
READERS, I'VE NEVER A YOUNG MAN
WHO WAS ESTRANGED FROM HIS
MOTHER, WHO AFTER READING THIS
BOOK DECIDED TO CALL HER AFTER
THREE YEARS.
A WOMAN WHO WAS GOING TO
GET PLASTIC SURGERY WITH FOUR
KIDS MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE
BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK.
PLEASE PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES
FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HEAL
BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE WILL
SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND MY 6-YEAR- OLD HAS SOMETHING
TO SAY.
I LOVE LIBRARIES: I LOVE LIBRARIES.
GIVE
THEM MONEY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SUSAN.
JEN SOUTHWELL, DAVID STRAUSS,
GWEN, AND LAURA MILLER.
WELCOME.
HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT: HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT?
MY NAME IS JEN
SOUTHWELL AND I'VE BEEN ON THE
FOUNDATION BOARD FOR SEVEN
YEARS.
I JOINED RIGHT WHEN WE
PASSED THE LAST LIBRARY LEVY AND
I'VE SEEN IT IN ACTION AND I'M
SO
HAPPY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
LIBRARY
TODAY. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
SUPPORT ALL THE FUNDED
AMENDMENTS
FOR THE LIBRARY LEVY.
I'M ESPECIALLY INTERESTED
IN COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
AMENDMENT TO THE FUND THE
SEISMIC
RETROFIT BRANCH.
I'M A REGULAR USER OF ALL THE
LIBRARIES. WE MUST RETROFIT THE
COLUMBIA BRANCH TO FULFILL THE
NEEDS
OF THE LAST LIBRARY.
IT IS CRITICAL TO RETROFIT
THE WEST SEATTLE BRANCH.
AND TO DO THAT IT MUST FIRST BE
FUNDED.
SO COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S AMENDMENT DOES EXACTLY
THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE BEST TIME
TO FUND A RETROFIT IS
BEFORE WE HAVE THAT NEXT
EARTHQUAKE.
SO PLEASE VOTE YES TO FUND
THIS CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEED
IN WEST SEATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT
TO
OUR LIBRARY AND OUR CITY.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
DAVID STRAUSS, GWEN, JANEL AND
MAY I ASK EVERYONE TO DO JAZZ
HANDS INSTEAD OF
CLAPPING. I WOULD APPRECIATE
THAT.
WELCOME.
I'M DAVID STRAUSS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF QUEEN ANNE.
I LIVE A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY
FROM THE QUEEN ANNE BRANCH
LIBRARY.
I DO URGE YOU HUMBLY TO
SUPPORTSUPPORT
AMENDMENTS TO THE LEVY.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BOOKS IN
OUR COMMUNITY IS REAL AND THEY
ARE AMONG THE THINGS THAT WE
CAN TOUCH AND SHARE EVEN ACROSS
MILES, AND SO THEY'RE
BOTH SOCIALLY GALVANIZING AND
CULTURALLY EXPANDING.
BOOKS ARE SORT OF
UNCHARACTERISTICALLY A SORT OF
REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF EVEN
OUR DIGITAL AGE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY WE NEED
THESE BUILDINGS. WE NEED THESE
BUILDINGS TO
BE IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY.
THEY'RE STILL COMMUNITY MARKERS
AND REFUGES FOR SO MANYMANY
PEOPLE,
AND SO MANY
OF US IN SEATTLE. THANKS VERY
MUCH.
THANK YOU, DAVID.
GWEN, JANEL BLAKELY AND LAURA
MILLER.
TESTING: TESTING.
GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS GWEN GERONIMO
FROM WEST SEATTLE.
I'M HUMBLY ASKING YOU TOTO
THE EXTRA FUNDING FOR
BOOKS, PROGRAMS AND THE
BUILDINGS
OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IT'S A SANCTUARY FOR --
AGAINST THE COLD SEATTLE
WINTERS AS WELL AS THE HOT
SEATTLE SUMMERS,
SOMETHING I DIDN'T EXPECT WHEN
I CAME HERE FROM HAWAII.
IT ALSO GAVE ME ACCESS TO BOTH
A COMPUTER AND A PRINTER, WHICH
ALLOWED ME TO VOLUNTEER
FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AROUND
THE STATE AND EVENTUALLY LANDING
A JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF OWE
OCOLOGY.
I WAS ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY I CARE FOR
AND EVENTUALLY HELP PROTECT
THE WATERS OF THE STATE THAT I
LOVE.
PLEASE -- OH, MY GOODNESS,
SORRY. PLEASE VOTE YES FOR ALL
THE
FUNDED AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, GWEN.
JANEL BLAKELY AND LAURA MILLER
AND THEN
WE'LL GO TO ONLINE
SPEAKERS. WELCOME.
GOOD EVENING: GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS JANEL BLAKELY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
SUPPORT ALL THE FUNDED
AMENDMENTS TO
THE LIBRARY LEVY.
I WANT TO PROVIDE ONE NOTE
ON THE CITY'S LEVY CAPACITY.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IT
REPORTED, INCLUDING IN AN
ARTICLE THIS
MORNING, THAT A $410
MILLION LEVY WOULD PUSH OUR
PROPERTY
TAX NUMBER FROM $3. 02 TO $3.21.
THIS IS INACCURATE.
IT DOES NOT COUNT FOR THE 2019
LIBRARY LEVY COSTS ROLLING OFF.
IT ALSO MISSTATES THE
STARTING PLACE OF THE CITY'S
CURRENT
REGULAR LEVY RATE, WHICH IS
$2.96. IT IS MORE ACCURATE TO
STATE THAT A $410 MILLION
REPLACEMENT LIBRARY WOULD TAKE
THE CITY FROM
$2.96 TO $3. 03, AN INCREASE OF
JUST 7 CENTS.
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
ONLY INCREASE THAT BY A FEW
CENTS.
PLEASE DON'T USE PAST
LEVY DECISIONS OR AN UNCERTAIN
FUTURE TO SHORTCHANGE THE
LIBRARY
IN THE PRESENT, PULLING SHOWS
THAT OUR CITY WANTS AND EXPECTS
TO SEE A LIBRARY LEVY.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, JANEL.
WE'LL GO TO ONLINE SPEAKERS.
JUST SO YOU KNOW WHO IS UP NEXT.
HI, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LAURA MILLER.
I LIVE ON BEACON HILL AND
SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE
FRIENDS
OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I'M ALSO AN EDUCATOR AND
A DOCTORAL CANDIDATE AT SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY. I STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO INCREASE THE
LIBRARY LEVY
ESPECIALLY COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S
AMENDMENT TO
MAKE SURE OUR LIBRARY BUILDINGS
ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED
INCLUDING HAVING
ADEQUATE COOLING.
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW
POWERFUL
LIBRARIES ARE FOR STUDENTS.
I'VE HAD STUDENTS CHASE A
RESEARCH QUESTION FROM
THE CLASSROOM TO THEIR LOCAL
BRANCH
ALL THE WAY TO THE LIBRARY OF
CONGRESS WITH THE HELP
OF AMAZING LIBRARIANS.
BUT THAT ONLY WORKS
IF THE SPACE ITSELF SUPPORTS
LEARNING.
SAFE, WELCOMING AIR-
CONDITIONED SPACES MATTER
ESPECIALLY IN
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE AS HEAT
BECOMES MORE OF AN ISSUE.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT NOT JUST
IN OUR BUILDINGS, IN THE
STUDENTS
AND COMMUNITIES WHO RELY ON
THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND FOR SUPPORTING
OUR LIBRARIES.
THANK YOU, LAURA.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO ONLINE SPEAKERS.
I DON'T SEE JUSTIN BAIRD
PRESENT
SO TO COLLEEN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
GOOD EVENING, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS COLLEEN, LONG- TERM
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE, LIVED
IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND
TODAY REPRESENTING OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN AND
SENIORS WHOSE GO- TO PLACE IS
THE PUBLIC
LIBRARY.
WHEN THE CITY STARTED
ARTICLE NUMBER 12 REQUIRES A
LIBRARY
FUND AT ITS ORIGINS.
THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
AND WAS PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY THE
CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
NOW IT'S SHIFTED TO RESIDENTS
AND PROPERTY OWNERS WHICH
MEANS RENTERS PAY THAT IN THEIR
RENTS AND HOMEOWNERS PAY IT AS
WELL.
SO AT $410 MILLION THE LIBRARY
LEVY IS NEARLY DOUBLE FROM THE
TAX OF THETHE ONE TO
COVER ALL OF ITS EXPENSES.
WE SUPPORT THIS LIBRARY LEVY BUT
REJECT ALL OF THE NEW
VERY EXPENSIVE AMENDMENTS
THAT TAXPAYERS SIMPLY CANNOT
AFFORD.
THERE ARE
REAL CONCERNS WITH THIS
ADDITIONAL TAX
LEVY REQUIRES THE CITY TO EXCEED
ITS LEVY LIMITS IN CHAPTER 84.
55
RCW AND MORE PUTS SEATTLE AT
DANGEROUSLY HIGH TAX LIMITS,
THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.
WHILE EVERYBODY IS WELL MEANING
ABOUT THE BOOKS, WE ALSO HAVE
TO PAY THE
BILLS. THE CITY COUNCIL MUST
BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE NOT
TO PROPOSE TO EXCEED THE
$410 MILLION LEVY PROPOSALS.
SEATTLE PROPERTY TAXES
HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR PARKS AND
LEVIES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY AND
PRESCHOOLS TO PROVIDE
RESOURCES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
GROWN-UPS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND
KEEPING SEATTLE AFFORDABLE.
THANK YOU, COLLEEN.
I DON'T SEE DAVID HAYNES
PRESENT.
SO ANN TYSON, YOU CAN PRESS
STAR 6, AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL COME BACK TO
YOU, ANN.
AMY, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND YOU
MAY BEGIN.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR
RIVERA AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS AMY
THEOBALD
A RESIDENT OF CAPITOL HILL
IN COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S
DISTRICT. AND I WANT TO START BY
STATING MY SUPPORT FOR THE
LIBRARY LEVY
AND THE AMENDMENTS.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE
THE ADDITION TO SUPPORT
THE EXPANSION OF EBOOKS, WHICH I
TEND TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS
AND THE SUPPORT FOR ESL
PROGRAMS.
MY MOTHER WAS A PUBLIC
LIBRARIAN WHO INSTILLED IN ME,
MY
BROTHER AND MY SISTER, A DEEP
LOVE
FOR READING AND BOOKS.
MY SISTER WENT ON TO EARN
HER Ph.D. IN ENGLISH.
FOR ME, READING AND GAINING
KNOWLEDGE HAS ALWAYS SHAPED MY
WORLD VIEW.
IT HAS MADE ME A MORE
ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN SOCIETY
AND
OUR DEMOCRATIC WAYS OF LIFE.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE
LIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS
AND STRONGLY SUPPORT INVESTING
IN THE MATERIALS, THE COLLECTION
OF
BOOKS AND PROGRAMMING SO
THAT WE CAN ALL
CONTINUE TO SHARE IN THESE RICH
RE SOURCES.
PLEASE INVEST IN OUR LIBRARY.
SEATTLE IS A WONDERFUL PLACE
TO LIVE BECAUSE OF THE LIBRARY.
THIS LEVY IS ONLY SEVEN YEARS.
THANK YOU, AMY.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS, PLEASE DO EMAIL THEM
IN TO
COUNCIL.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO BACK TO ANN TYSON.
ANN, PRESS STAR 6, AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON: GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT
LIVING NEAR THE INTERSEA BRANCH
AND MY
FAMILY AND I AND MANY
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS VISIT
UNIVERSITY, NORTHEAST BRANCH,
DOWNTOWN
LIBRARIES.
WE LOVE THE STORY TIMES,
THE SUMMER READING PROGRAMS,
QUIET STUDY AND WORK ROOMS AND
ALSO THE EXCELLENT RESEARCH
SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE
LIBRARIES.
WE'VE ALSO VOLUNTEERED WITH
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OVER
MANY YEARS, SO THIS IS A
FANTASTIC
RESOURCE FOR ALL SEATTLE
CITIZENS WHETHER CHILDRENS OR
STUDENTS AND I URGE YOU TO
VOTE YES AND PASS THE GENEROUS
$410 MILLION LIBRARY LEVY.
I ALSO AGREE IT SHOULD BE
CAPPED AT THAT AMOUNT TO
MAINTAIN
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND
THE EQUITABLE NATURE OF THIS
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ANN.
I DON'T SEE JUSTIN OR DAVID
SO I'LL GO BACK TO IN- PERSON
SPEAKERS.
WE WILL START WITH NEAL, FAITH,
TIFFANY,
STEPHANIE ACTIONED ROD AND MANDY
TOOMEY.
HI.
HI, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS NELU AND
A MEMBER OF THE JOINT ADVOCACY
COMMITTEE AND
A LIFELONG LIBRARY LOVER.
WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL MY FAMILY COULDN'T
REALLY
AFFORD BOOKS, BUT I WAS AN AVID
READER.
THE LIBRARY WAS A TREASURE.
TODAY I ORGANIZE A BOOK
CLUB THAT SPANS GENERATIONS
FROM PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s TO A
MEMBER OVER 85 YEARS OLD WHO
SOMETIMES MISSES MEETINGS FOR
HER DANCE
COMPETITIONS.
THAT'S THE KIND OF COMMUNITY
THE LIBRARY MAKES POSSIBLE.
THAT'S WHY I
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
AMENDMENT
TO INCREASE ACCESS TO BOOKS.
IT HELPS SUSTAIN
THESE CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE
CITY.
WE HAD OUR MEETING JUST LAST
NIGHT AND ONE OF OUR
ELDER MEMBERS WANTED ME TO PASS
ON THAT AT THIS TIME LIBRARIES
ARE AN INCREDIBLE INSTITUTION
THAT NEED, PROVIDES
PUBLIC SERVICES AT FREE ACCESS,
A PLACE
FOR TRUTH, FOR DEMOCRACY AND
KNOWLEDGE.
I PLEASE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT OUR
LIBRARY, SUPPORT
DEMOCRACY, AND SUPPORT OUR
READERS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, NELU.
FAITH, TIFFANY, STEPHANIE AND
MANDY TOOMEY.
GREAT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS FAITH PETTIS AND I'M
A TRUSTEE FOR THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC
LIBRARY HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES. IN THE RECENT
OP- ED BY BOARD
COLLEAGUE AND FRIENDS SAID IT
WELL.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO APPROVE A LEVY THAT MATCHES
WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS FROM
ITS
LIBRARY. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
FOR
COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS AND
CAPITAL PROJECTS AND MAINTENANCE
MEET THOSE IMPORTANT GOALS.
I ASK YOU TO APPROVE THEM
SO THAT OUR LIBRARY CAN ACHIEVE
ITS
STRATEGIC GOALS AND SERVE
ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE
THAT THE BOARD TAKES VERY
SERIOUSLY
OUR COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING
THE PROJECTS FUNDED IN EACH
APPROVED LEVY.
THE LIBRARY HAS A CLEAR
TRACK RECORD OF DELIVERING WHAT
WE PROMISED AND I AM
CONFIDENT WE WILL DO THIS GOING
FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR
ALL YOUR WORK ON
THESE AMENDMENTS AND
COLLABORATION.
THANK YOU, FAITH.
TIFFANY, STEPHANIE AXELROD,
MANDY TOOMEY, MATT HILLMAN.
GO AHEAD,
TIFFANY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.
I LIVE IN RAINIER BEACH WHERE
SAFETY IS A PARAMOUNT CONCERN
AND, FOR ME, LIBRARIES ARE
AN IMPORTANT PART OF SAFETY.
WHEN I GO TO THE RAINIER BEACH
BRANCH, I SEE YOUTH
GETTING TUTORING AND HAVING
ACTIVITIES LIKE A LEGO CLUB AND
DIFFERENT STORY TIMES.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
THOSE THIRD SPACES.
NOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
BUT ALSO FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
HAVING THIRD SPACES AND
CLIMATE- CONTROLLED SPACES
IN PARTICULAR IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
NEIGHBORS WHO KNOW EACH OTHER
CAN CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.
COMMUNITY COHESION
BOOSTS RESILIENCE TO EMERGENCIES
AND SO I AM VERY
MUCH IN SUPPORT OF MY
COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S
AMENDMENT REGARDING DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT TO LIBRARIES AND
OUR CITY.
THANK YOU, TIFFANY.
STEPHANIE AXELROD, MANDY
TOOMEY, MATT HILLMAN, AMY
SOLOMON.
AND
YOU CAN PLEASE STEP UP IF YOU
WANT TO TO ONE OF THE
MICS IF YOU'RE NEXT.
HELLO: HELLO.
STEPHANIE, GO AHEAD.
SORRY.
NO, I'M SORRY.
I'M STEPHANIE AXELROD.
THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA, AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A PROPERTY
OWNER
IN HAWTHORNE HILLS IN DISTRICT
FOUR. I'VE RAISED A FAMILY OF
READERS.
MY HUSBAND IS HERE.
HE'S A READER.
WE PASSED THAT ON TO OUR
SONS, ISAAC AND JERROD.
I KNOW THAT MANY
PEOPLE, HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS
ALIKE, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
RISING
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE LIBRARY
REPRESENTS A TINY PORTION OF
THE OVERALL PROPERTY TAXES AND
PAYS OFF OUR COMMUNITY MANY
TIMES
OVER.
LIBRARY PROGRAMS HELP
EMPOWER MANY IMMIGRANTS,
REFUGEES, ASPIRING BUSINESS
OWNERS, AND
THEY SUCCEED IN THE WORK PLACE.
DOING SO BENEFITS NOT JUST
THOSE INDIVIDUALS BUT OUR
ECONOMY
OVERALL. EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE
THOSE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, WHEN
YOU SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE
LIBRARY
LEVY, YOU CONTRIBUTE TO
BOTH PERSONAL SUCCESS OF
NEIGHBORS
IN THE COMMUNITY OVERALL.
THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING
AMENDMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT ARE PROPOSING FOR EXPANDED
MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMMING, AND I
CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER USE OF
TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, STEPHANIE.
MANDY TOOMEY, MATT
HILLMAN, AMY SOLOMON AND
FLORENCE LARSON.
MANDY, GO AHEAD.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU ARE MY
COUNCILMEMBER.
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, TO
ME, REPRESENTS THE BEST OF
SOCIETY.
IT REPRESENTS
INFORMATION SHARING AND
COMMUNITY
BUILDING AND NOT CONSUMERISM.
PEOPLE AT THE LIBRARY ARE
TREATED WITH DIGNITY REGARDLESS
OF WHERE THEY'RE FROM AND WHERE
THEY'RE LIVING.
I WAS LISTENING TO MAYOR WILSON
SPEAK EARLIER THIS WEEK
ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS,
WHICH
WE DEFINITELY SEE ON THE STREETS
OF CAPITOL HILL, AND I FEEL THAT
INVESTING IN LIBRARIES IS PART
OF THAT SOLUTION.
THAT'S WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ADD
MORE FUNDS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.
I ALSO HAVE TO SAY AS A
FORMERFORMER I LOVE
VOLUNTEERING WITH THE HOMEWORK
HELP
PROGRAM WHERE I CAN SIT SIDE-BY-
SIDE WITH IMMIGRANT STUDENTS
WORKING
MOSTLY ON THEIR MATH, WHICH IS A
CHALLENGE FOR ME.
THE LIBRARY IS MORE THAN BOOKS.
IT'S KNOWLEDGE.
IT'S COMMUNITY.
IT'S DIGNITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO INVEST IN THE
THINGS THAT WE LOVE, THINGS
THAT BUILD OUR SOCIETY.
THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU, MANDY,
AND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING.
MATT, AMY, AND JOHN.
MATT?
HELLO, CHAIR RIVERA AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MATT
HILLMAN, A
LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
THREE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE
--
BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE
SEATTLE LIBRARY FOUNDATION AND
CO- AUTHOR
OF THE EDITORIAL ENCOURAGING
A STRONGER LIBRARY
LEVY. I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE
AMENDMENTS TO THE LEVY
DEEPENING THE SUPPORT FOR
LIBRARY
FACILITIES, COLLECTIONS AND
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR
THOUGHTFUL ATTENTION TO
CREATING A LIBRARY LEVY THAT
GIVES
OUR COMMUNITY THE LIBRARY IT
URGENTLY WANTS AND NEEDS.
I WANT TO CALL SPECIAL
ATTENTION TO COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S AMENDMENT TO EXPAND
EBOOKS.
A FEW DAYS AGO I WENT INTO
MY NEIGHBORHOOD BOOKSTORE
AND BOUGHT A COPY OF A NEW BOOK
"THE KEEPER" AS SOON AS IT WAS
RELEASED.
I CAN AFFORD TO TAKE TIME IN
THE MIDDLE OF MY DAY ANDAND
SHELL
$35 FOR A NEW HARD COVER.
WHY SHOULD ONLY PEOPLE LIKE
ME BE ABLE TO READ NEW RELEASES
THE DAY THEY COME OUT AND BE
ABLE
TO TAKE PART IN THE
NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
LATEST GREAT STORY OR IMPORTANT
ISSUE?
IT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MATT.
AMY SOLOMON, FLORENCE LARSON,
AMY -- I'M SO SORRY IF I'M
BUTCHERING YOUR NAME -- JOHN.
AMY SOLOMON.
YES, I'M AMY SOLOMON, A
LONG TIME RESIDENT OF CAPITOL
HILL
IN DISTRICT THREE.
I SERVE ON THE
LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD.
PLEASE ADOPT THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO THE
LIBRARY LEVY AND APPROVE THEM
FOR
INCLUSION ON THE AUGUST BALLOT.
A RECENT EXAMPLE OF PROGRAMMING
IS THE GLOBAL READING CHALLENGE.
FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS HAD
A WINNING TEAM OF SIX FOURTH
GRADERS FROM JOHN STANFORD
SCHOOL.
IT TIES READING
COMPREHENSION, TEAM BUILDING,
LIFE SKILLS TO
BOOKS. THEN THE ISSUE OF
DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE, TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
HUGELY RELEVANT TO THE BRICK
AND MORTAR AND DIJ GITAL NEEDS
OF
THE LIE BEAR SYSTEM.
COSTS ESCALATE AND ACCESS IS
DISRUPTIVE IF WE IGNORE
THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
AT THE COMMITTEE
MEETING SOME OF YOU RELATED YOUR
OWN
EXPERIENCES OF THE TANGIBLE
VALUE OF THE
LIBRARY.
WHEN PEOPLE SHARE THESE
MOVING STORIES TO DESCRIBE
SOMETHING MEANINGFUL IN THEIR
LIVES
WITH SOMEONE ELSE, IT CREATES A
SPACE AND A STARTING POINT FOR
MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND
RESPECT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, AMY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, COLLEAGUES,
FOR THE RECORD COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE HAS JOINED US, AND JOINED
US A LITTLE BIT AGO.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. WE HAVE FLORENCE LARSON,
AMY,
JOHN, JEFF AND THEN KATIE.
ALL RIGHT.
FLORENCE.
HELLO: HELLO.
MY NAME IS FLORENCE LARSON,
AND I LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL,
SO DISTRICT THREE.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
SUPPORT ALL THE FUNDED
AMENDMENTS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY NOTE HOW
PROPOSED LEVY AND AMENDMENTS
WOULD SUPPORT OUR
AMAZING LIBRARY STAFF, AND I
KNOW A FEW
OF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE
LIBRARIAN, AND I CERTAINLY DO,
TOO.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD EXPAND STAFF
CAPACITY FOR PROGRAMMING AND
OUTREACH ADDING MORE
EMPLOYEES TO DO THIS ESSENTIAL
WORK AND
FREEING UP ESSENTIAL STAFF TO
DO WHAT THEY DO BEST.
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER RINCK --
I THANK COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
FOR RECOGNIZING THAT EXPANDING
THE COLLECTION WILL REQUIRE
THOSE DEDICATED STAFF TO
SUPPORT PURCHASING INVENTORY AND
MORE
TO PROVIDE PEOPLE THE BOOKS THEY
WANT.
PLEASE VOTE YES TO SUPPORT
LIBRARIES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, FLORENCE.
AMY -- HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE
YOUR LAST NAME?
THANK YOU.
AMY, GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS AMY AND I LIVE IN: MY NAME IS AMY AND I LIVE IN
LOWER QUEEN ANNE AND I AM URGING
THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPAND THE
LEVY.
I GREW UP IN LOW-
INCOME HOUSEHOLD WITH MY PARENTS
BEING FROM A REFUGEE AND
IMMIGRANT
BACKGROUND AND WE RELIED ON
THE LIBRARY TO ACCESS COMMUNITY
RESOURCES AND IT'S WHERE I
FOSTERED MY LOVE OF LEARNING AND
LITERACY. AS AN EXPECTING
PARENT,
I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN
EVER FOR THE COMING GENERATION
TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE
CRITICAL COMMUNITY SPACES.
I'M ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE
TETCH OF THE AMENDMENTS CO-
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND
JUAREZ FOR PROGRAMS THAT
ARE GOING TO SUPPORT
MULTILINGUAL
ENGLISH LEARNERS AND
REALLY REFLECT THE DEVERSETY OF
THE COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE
ESPECIALLY
NOW DURING THIS TIME OF
HEIGHTENED
MISINFORMATION, CENSORSHIP AND
WEALTH
INEQUALITY. WE NEED THE
INVESTMENT
IN EQUITABLE SPACES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, AMY.
JOHN, JEFF AND KATIE.
I'M SORRY ABOUT THE NAME.
JOHN.
GOOD EVENING: GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING: GOOD EVENING.
I'M JOHN MEDEROS,
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND
I'M A REGULAR USER OF THE
MAGNOLIA BRANCH LIBRARY.
I'M NOT HERE TO ADVOCATE
FOR FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR
BRANCH.
RATHER, I BELIEVE THE LIBRARY IS
A CORNERSTONE OF EFFORTS TO TO
PROMOTE LITERACY AND LOVE
OF LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE NEED TO REGARD THE
LIBRARY LEVY AS AN INVESTMENT
PROGRAM.
INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUNGER
GENERATIONS AND IN THE FUTURE OF
OUR SOCIETY.
AT A TIME WHEN OUR
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS SO SADLY
GOING IN
PRECISELY THE WRONG DIRECTION,
CUTTING INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH,
EDUCATION, SCIENCE, WE MUST ACT
LOCALLY TO ENSURE SEATTLE HAS A
DIVERSE, LITERATE AND WELL
INFORMED POPULATION.
OUR DEMOCRACY NEEDS STRONG
LIBRARIES. FOR THAT REASON I
HOPE
THE COUNCIL WILL ENDORSE
IN PARTICULAR THE AMENDMENTS BY
COUNCILMEMBERS FOSTER AND JUAREZ
THAT WILL INCREASE THE CITYWIDE
IMPACT OF THE LIBRARY'S
PROGRAMS.
I THANK THE COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
JEFF AND THEN KATIE AND
THEN LAUREN AND JENNIFER.
GOOD EVENING: GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS JEFF AND I AM
A RESIDENT OF WEST SEATTLE.
I READ A BOOK IN THE THIRD
GREAT.
IT WAS TITLED "MY LIFE AS
A POTATO AND HOW IT ENDED.
"I WAS INCREDIBLY PROUD
WHEN THAT BOOK WON A CLASS
COMPETITION, WAS GIVEN ITS OWN
DEWY DECIMAL NUMBER AND PUT
IN THE LIBRARY.
SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN
A PASSIONATE LIFELONG READER.
THE CONVENIENCE I GET FROM THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS FIRST
CLASS, BUT EVEN IF TOO OFTEN
I'M WAITING FOR SOME OF THE
BOOKS
I PUT ON HOLD FOR FAR TOO LONG.
I DON'T MIND PAYING TAXES FOR
THE THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY
AND THE THINGS THAT BUILD
COMMUNITY
HERE IN OUR CITY AND THE
LIBRARY DOES BOTH OF THOSE
THINGS.
I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR
AMENDMENTS TO INCREASE THE
COLLECTIONS BOTH DIGITAL AND
PEAK PICKS AND TO UPDATE OUR
BRANCH IN WEST SEATTLE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THE
LIBRARY AND ITS ASSOCIATED
AMENDMENTS.
MY LIFE AS A POTATO ENDED WITH
ME BEING FRENCH FRIED.
HOW ELSE WOULD IT HAVE
HAPPENED FOR A SLIGHTLY CHUBBY
THIRD
GRADER?
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
ESPECIALLY SAKA, FOSTER AND
RINCK WHO REPRESENT ME IN WEST
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU, JEFF.
ALL RIGHT, KATIE AND THEN
LAUREN AND JENNIFER.
KATIE?
MY NAME IS KATIE: MY NAME IS KATIE.
I'M A 15- YEAR RESIDENT OF WEST
SEATTLE AND I'M ASKING TO
YOU PLEASE SUPPORT ALL THE
FUNDED
AMENDMENTS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.
IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO
ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE THE
LIBRARY
HAS A HUGE, POSITIVE IMPACT
ON MY LIFE.
AS A SINGLE PARENT OF
A VORACIOUS READER I CAN FIND
UNLIMITED BOOKS AND KNOWLEDGE TO
MY 9-YEAR-OLD.
I CALCULATED HOW MUCH I WOULD
HAVE SPENT ON BOOKS IF I
HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO CHECK THEM
OUT
AND I COULDN'T HAVE AFFORDED
IT.
WE ALSO VISIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BRANCH FOR PROGRAMS.
I JUST TOOK MY KID LAST WEEK
TO THEIR FIRST TWEEN PROGRAM AND
A LEGITIMATE TEENAGER, 13,
WAS SAD THEY WERE TOO OLD TO
ATTEND.
THE LIBRARIAN SAID, OF COURSE
YOU CAN.
COME ON IN.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN
TO.
THE LIBRARY IS A WELCOMING SPACE
FOR EVERYONE AND WE NEED TO TO
FULLY FUND IT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
FOR
YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR LIBRARY
AND OUR CITY.
THANK YOU, KATIE.
LAUREN, JENNIFER AND MASON.
JENNIFER GO AHEAD --
LAUREN: LAUREN.
I'M LAUREN. AM I NEXT?
OH, SORRY, LAUREN.
APOLOGIES.
LAUREN, GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS LAUREN AND I LIVE: MY NAME IS LAUREN AND I LIVE
IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M A
REGULAR USER OF THE WEST SEATTLE
BRANCH.
I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.
MY MOM GAVE ME A SPECIAL GIFT.
IT'S A LIBRARY BOOK THAT I
FORGOT TO RETURN AS A CHILD.
WHILE I ENJOYED THIS RELIC OF
ITS TIME, I BROUGHT IT
HERE TODAY AS A REMINDER THAT
LIBRARIES NEED MORE FUNDING FOR
COLLECTIONS.
LIBRARY BOOKS GO MISSING, THEY
BREAK DOWN FROM USE, AND IN THE
CASE OF E BOOKS AND AUDIO
BOOKS, WHICH I USE CONSTANTLY,
THEY
EXPIRE.
AS A SEATTLE TAXPAYER
AND HOMEOWNER I'M ASKING YOU
TO PLEASE SUPPORT ALL THE
AMENDMENTS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY
ESPECIALLY THE AMENDMENT
FOR PROVIDING MORE FUNDING FOR
COLLECTIONS. THANK YOU TO ALL OF
OUR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO THE LIBRARY
AND OUR CITY.
THANK YOU, LAUREN.
JENNIFER, MASON AND PAUL TYLER.
HI, I'M JENNIFER AND I
SERVE AS THE CURRENT BOARD
PRESIDENT FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE
SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND I LIVE
IN DISTRICT THREE.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT ALL FUNDED AMENDMENTS TO
THE LIBRARY LEVY SPECIFICALLY
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
AMENDMENTS TO EXPAND FUNDING FOR
DIGITAL
BOOKS. WHILE THE INITIAL LETCHY
PROPOSAL IS A START IT DOES
NOT DO ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE
REALITY OF SKYROCKETING DEMAND
AND THE
FRUSTRATINGLY LONG WAIT
TIMES FOR EBOOKS.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
PROPOSAL BRIDGES THAT GAP
ENSURING
OUR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
REMAINS ACCESSIBLE RATHER THAN
JUST
ASPIRATIONAL.
FURTHERMORE, INTRODUCING
A DIGITAL VERSION OF PEAK PICKS
WOULD BE A TRANSFORMATIVE
UPGRADE TO ONE OF THE
LIBRARY'S MOST BELOVED
SERVICES.
WHILE THESE AMENDMENTS REPRESENT
RELATIVELY SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNTS,
THEY OFFER HIGH
VISIBLE RETURN FOR THE PUBLIC.
RESIDENTS IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD WILL NOTICE AND
BENEFIT DAILY
FROM THIS AMENDMENT.
PLEASE VOTE YES TO ENSURE OUR
LIBRARY SYSTEM KEEPS PACE
WITH OUR COMMUNITY --
HOW OUR
COMMUNITY ACTUALLY READS TODAY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, JENNIFER.
MASON, PAUL TYLER, ANGEL AND
COCORU.
MASON, GO AHEAD.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MASON AND I'M A
WEST SEATTLE RESIDENT IN
DISTRICT
ONE. I'M IN FAVOR OF THE
PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.
AS ONE OF THE LAST GREAT
THIRD SPACES WE NEED TO INVEST
IN LIBRARIES STRENGTHENING THEIR
FOUNDATIONS BOTH PHYSICAL AND
FISCAL WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITIES. SEISMIC RETROFITS
LIKE THE ONE
FOR THE WEST LIBRARY BRANCH BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK ARE
CRITICAL TO ENSURING SAFE AND
ENDURING COMMUNITY SPACES.
ALL LIBRARIES, INCLUDING MY WEST
BRANCH OFFER WEST SEATTLE A MENU
OF RESOURCES THAT SERVE EVERY
COMMUNITY MEMBER FROM
FAMILY READING TIME AND
HOMEWORK HELP TO TAX AND
ENTREPRENEURIAL
TO JUST BEING A FREE PLACE TO
BE.
OFTEN DESCRIBED LIBRARIES AS
A MODERN MIRACLE THAT GIVES
AND GIVES AND ASKS LITTLE IN
RETURN.
THAT IMPORTANT WORK WILL BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE SAFELY AND
ASSUREDLY
IF ALL COUNCILMEMBERS COMPLETE
THE PROJECT IDENTIFIED IN
RINCK'S AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT
TO THE LIBRARY AND
OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR BEAUTIFUL
CITY.
THANK YOU, MASON.
PAUL TYLER, ANGEL SOLS AND
COCORU.
GOSH, I'M SAYINGSAYING RIGHT, I
HOPE. PAUL.
COUNCIL CHAIR AND: COUNCIL CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS PAUL
TYLER, FRIENDS OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND I RESIDE IN
QUEEN
ANNE, DISTRICT SEVEN.
I REQUEST THAT THE
AMENDMENTS BE INCLUDED IN THE
LEVY.
LIBRARY IS A FABRIC OF SEATTLE.
OUR LIBRARIES REPRESENT
THE VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACES,
SPACES THAT BIND US TOGETHER FOR
A COMMON CAUSE AS ACTIVE
CITIZENS IN A COMMUNITY.
A LIBRARY PROVIDES SAFE --
FREE AND SAFE SPACES TO GROW AND
EXPLORE IDEAS. THE KEY ASPECT OF
OUR DEMOCRACY.
LIBRARIES HAVE THE ABILITY
TO DEVELOP PASSION FOR READING
AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON
LITERACY. THESE SPACES ALLOW FOR
INQUIRY,
EXPLORATION AND DEEP LEARNING.
AS A RETIRED EDUCATOR
I'VE ALWAYS VALUED AND
PROMOTED LIFELONG LEARNING.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HAVE
LIBRARY SYSTEMS
REACH ITS FULL CAPACITY ASAS
HUB OF THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY.
IT PROVIDES CULTURAL EXCHANGES
WHICH STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY
TIES. IN CLOSING, I BELIEVE
THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED IN A THOUGHTFUL AND
FISCAL
RESPONSE AND I THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IT'S MORE NEEDED TODAY
THAN EVER BEFORE AND I ASK THAT
YOU
SUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, PAUL.
ANGEL, COCORU AND THEN WE'LL GO
TO ONLINE. I SEE OUR ONLINE
SPEAKERS ON.
ANGEL.
HI.
COUNCILMEMBERS, GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN.
I KNOW WE KEEP MEETING LIKE
THIS.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ANGEL
SOLS, A
PROUD MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
YOU'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW OF US
HERE.
WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
SINCE
1941. OUR MISSION IS TO ELEVATE
THE LIBRARY AND INSPIRE THE LOVE
OF READING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I CARE ABOUT LIBRARIES BECAUSE
THEY ARE A PILLAR OF
OUR COMMUNITY WHICH
CREATES, CULTIVATES AND ENSURES
EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY, DISCOVERY
AND WONDER.
I AM IN FAVOR OF ALL OF
THE OPPOSED -- ALL OF THE
PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS.
I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT THE
PROPOSED LEVY LARGELY MAINTAINS
THE STATUS -- HOLD ON -- GLASSES
ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED.
I WAS GOING TO TRY TO NOT USE
THEM. HERE WE GO.
THE PROPOSED LEVY
LARGELY MAINTAINS THE STATUS QUO
AND IS
INSUFFICIENT AND IT IS
UNACCEPTABLE FOR PROGRESSIVE,
WELL- READ, DIVERSE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO SAY THAT
BECAUSE THE 2019 LEVY WAS $219
MILLION SOME NEWS
OUTLETS DESCRIBED THE $410
MILLION
PROPOSAL
AS AN INCREASE OF 50% AND THAT
WAS INCORRECT.
SO WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO IS
PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S AMENDMENTS REGARDING
BOOKS, PLEASE
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,
JUAREZ
AMENDMENTS REGARDING PROGRAMS.
PLEASE SUPPORT AMENDMENTS FOR --
FROM COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
FOSTER, LIN AND STRAUSS.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST DON'T LET AN
INCLINATION TO FOCUS ON
THE FUTURE STEAL OUR PRESENT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
ALL THAT YOU DO ESPECIALLY FOR
OUR LIBRARIES AND OUR CITY.
AND NOW I CAN SEE.
THANK YOU, ANGEL.
COCORU
ARONKU AND THEN WE'LL GO TO
ONLINE.
HI.
MY NAME IS COCORU ARONKU.
GOOD EVENING ALL. I STAND HERE
TODAY IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF INCREASING THE
LIBRARY LEVY ESPECIALLY IN A
WORLD WHERE EVERYTHING IS BASED
ON WHAT IT PRODUCES FOR THE
RICHEST PEOPLE, NOT FOR
COMMUNITY.
TO ME, A LIBRARY IS NOT JUST
A BUILDING FILLED WITH BOOKS,
IT'S A PLACE WHERE
EVERYBODY'S IMAGINATION IS
DISCOVERED.
IT IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS
FIND RESOURCES.
IT IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO
ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS GO TO
GET SUPPORT, AND IT'S ALSO A
PLACE WHERE COMMUNITIES COME
TOGETHER FREELY TO TO
SHARE, TO CONNECT ON EQUAL
FOOTING.
IT'S IN A CITY LIKE SEATTLE
THAT'S KNOWN FOR INNOVATION AND
PROGRESS.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT ACCESS
TO
KNOWLEDGE IS NOT A PRIVILEGE BUT
A RIGHT.
AN INCREASED LEVY MEANS LONGER
HOURS, STRONGER PROGRAMS AND
UPDATED RESOURCES AND A
TRUE MEASURE OF THE CITY LIKE
SEATTLE IS NOT JUST THE CITY
LINE OR
THE SKYLINE OR THE BEAUTIFUL
NATURE.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
IT'S HOW WELL WE SUPPORT
OUR
PEOPLE BY INVESTING IN OUR
LIBRARIES.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO TO ONLINE SPEAKERS
NOW, SO WE'LL GO TO THAT
PERSON, DAVID HAYNES AND THEN
BRITTANY AND AN LIFIA.
DAVID HAYNES, ARE YOU HERE IN
PERSON?
HI, THANK YOU, DAVID HAYNES.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'LL JUST GO FROM THE PHONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT
THERE'S LIKE $195
MILLION INCREASE IN THE DEMANDS
OF THE
LEVY, AND SO THERE HAS TO BE
A CAVEAT THAT AT LEAST ONE OR
TWO DAYS A WEEK YOU HAVE TO
PROVIDE A 21st CENTURY TIME OF
BEING OPEN LIKE 9:00 A.M. TO
9:00 P.M.
AND IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TRULY
ENJOYABLE, YOU HAVE TO ALLOW
FOR THE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO BE
FULLY SUPPORTIVE TO DEAL WITH
ALL THE TROUBLED SOULS
BOTHERING PEOPLE AT THE LIBRARY.
IT'S BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO
SIT DOWN FOR EVEN 20 MINUTES IN
THE
COMPUTER SECTION BECAUSE
THERE'S BEHAVIORAL CRISIS
PEOPLE
THAT PASSIVE AGGRESSIVELY WANT
TO
BULLY AND BOTHER YOU.
YOU TRY TO SIT DOWN TO READ THE
NEWSPAPER, THEY ARE SO CLOSE
YOU END UP HITTING AND THE
PEOPLE CRINKLING THE STEEL
PLATES.
WE DON'T NEED ANY CHILD PORNO
ACCOMMODATION. GET THE
KID AWAY FROM THE GROUND
FLOOR.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
BRITTANY, ALIFIA, AND
THEN UNA MARTIN AND SARAH
STANLEY.
BRITTANY. 29, YES.
NO, NO WORRIES.
BRITTANY.
GREAT, WELCOME.
HI.
I'M BRITTANY AND I'M A RENTER
IN
BALLARD.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
SUPPORT ALL THE FUNDED
AMENDMENTS TO
THE LIBRARY LEVY BECAUSE THEY
ARE
ESSENTIAL INVESTMENTS IN
AFFORDABILITY. A VIBRANT LIBRARY
SYSTEM IS THE
FOUNDATION OF AN AFFORDABLE
CITY.
IT'S HOW WE GUARANTEE THAT
BOOKS AND KNOWLEDGE BELONG TO
EVERYONE.
THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD WILL
PAY NO MORE THAN $15 A MONTH FOR
THE
LIBRARY LEVY EVEN IF THE FUNDED
AMENDMENTS ARE INCLUDED, AS I
VERY MUCH HOPE THEY ARE.
THAT $15 A MONTH PROVIDES
SEATTLE FAMILIES ACCESS TO
A COLLECTION OF OVER 3 MILLION
ITEMS.
5,800 YEARLY PROGRAMS AND
CLASSES AND FREE ACCESS
TO MEETING
ROOMS, COMPUTERS AND WI-FI
ACROSS THE CITY.
THE PROPOSED FUNDED
AMENDMENTS SUPPORT THE PUBLIC
GOOD BY
INCREASING SUPPORT FOR
COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMMING AND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE FEW
SEATTLE WHERE A
PERSON CAN SPEND THEIR TIME
WITHOUT NEEDING TO SPEND ANY
MONEY.
WHAT'S MORE AFFORDABLE
THAN THAT?
THANK YOU, BRITTANY.
ALIFIA AND THEN
UNA MARTIN AND THEN SARAH
STANLEY.
WELCOME.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS ALIFIA.
I LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL.
I LOVE USING THE LIBRARY AND
CHECKING OUT
BOOKS. I'M PART OF A CLIMATE
CRISIS GROUP THAT MEETS AT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES. I'M ASKING YOU TO
PLEASE SUPPORT
ALL THE FUNDED AMENDMENTS TO
THE LIBRARY LEVY.
IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO
ME TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF BOTH
PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL BOOKS.
THEIR VALUE IS BRYCELESS AND
LIBRARIES ARE MAGICAL SPACES
THAT WE ALL HAVE CORE MEMORIES
AT.
AS A SEATTLE TAXPAYER I WANT
TO SEE MORE RESOURCES FOR
THE LIBRARY VIA THE LEVY BECAUSE
NOW IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
EVER TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION
IN EDUCATION OF OUR MINDS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE
LIBRARY AND OUROUR CITY.
PLEASE VOTE YES TO THE FUNDED
AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
UNA MARTIN, SARAH STANLEY AND
MIA DAVISON.
HELLO: HELLO.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS UNA MARTIN AND
I'M COMING FROM CAPITOL HILL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT
THE LEVY AND I AM ESPECIALLY
IN FAVOR OF COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND JUAREZ AMENDMENTS
TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR
MULTILINGUAL SPEAKERS
OF LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH.
AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO GREW UP
IN A SINGLE- PARENT IMMIGRANT
HOUSEHOLD, THE LIBRARY
WASN'T ONLY A SAFE THIRD SPACE
FOR US
BUT ALSO A VITAL RESOURCE
OF SURVIVAL FOR MY FAMILY.
MY MOTHER OFTEN USED THE
LIBRARY AS A RESOURCE TO
CONTINUE
HER ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION,
AND
I BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT
ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS LIKE THESE
WE WILL BE DOING FAMILIES
LIKELIKE AND MANY OTHERS A HUGE
DISSERVICE. CONTINUING TO INVEST
IN
THE LIBRARY IS PLANNING FOR THE
FUTURE.
SO PLEASE VOTE TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN OUR FAMILIES
AND COMMUNITIES WITH THESE
AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SARAH
STANLEY AND THEN MIA DAVISON.
HI. I'M SARAH STANLEY FROM
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
DISTRICT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO COUNCILMEMBERS JUAREZ,
STRAUSS,
FOSTER, RINCK AND LIN
FOR RECOGNIZING THAT THE
LIBRARY NEEDS A LEVY THAT IS
MORE ROBUST
AND SUPPORTIVE TO COVER THE
NEXT SEVEN YEARS.
I AGREE 100% WITH YOUR
AMENDMENTS. WHEN I TOLD MY UBER
DRIVER,
WHO IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED
STATES TEN YEARS AGO, THAT I
WAS SPEAKING HERE TONIGHT, HE
WAS
SO EXCITED, HE ASKED IF I
COULD SPEAK FOR HIM.
HE TOLD ME THAT THE
LIBRARY MAKES LIVING IN SEATTLE
MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR HIM AND HIS
COMMUNITY.
THE FREE WI- FI, THE
PREBOOKS, THE CHILDREN'S BOOKS
FOR KIDS IN
ENGLISH AND HIS LANGUAGE AS
WELL, THE JOB TRAINING
HELP HE WAS ABLE TO GET, THE AIR
CONDITIONING WHEN IT GOT TOO
HOT, AND THE ENGLISH CLASSES.
IN HIS WORDS, THE SEATTLE
LIBRARY IS A MIRACLE.
WE MUST GIVE IT THE MONEY IT
NEEDS.
SO LET'S PUT TOGETHER A ROBUST,
WELL-FUNDED LEVY AND GIVEN IT
TO THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE TO
SUPPORT, AND WE KNOW THEY WANT
TO PASS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT
YOU DO.
THANK YOU, SARAH. MIA
DAVISON.
HELLO: HELLO.
I'M MIA AND I'M REPRESENTING
THE DISTRICT AND ASKING YOU
TO SUPPORT ALL FUNDED AMENDMENTS
TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.
I'M ON A QUEST TO FIND
AND WALKABLE THIRD PLACES IN
SEATTLE
AND THESE ARE ONE OF THEM.
AS YOU MAY KNOW THE
DISTRICT BRANCH IS CLOSED FOR
RENOVATIONS, AND I MISS ITS
BOOKS, MAGAZINES,
SUBSCRIPTIONS, SHOWS, MOVIES,
THE SERVICES THAT
IT OFFERS TO THE PUBLIC EVEN AS
IT EXPANDS INTO A TECHNICAL
SPACES AS PUBLIC NEEDS CHANGE.
AND ITS RESOURCES AND
PUBLIC SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO USE
AND CONGREGATE AS AFFORDABILITY
IS
AN INCREASING CONCERN.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE AND
PLEASE VOTE YES FOR LIBRARY
LEVY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIA. ALL
RIGHT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN CHAMBERS
THAT DIDN'T SIGN UP BUT
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, COLLEAGUES, THAT WAS --
MIA WAS OUR LAST
REGISTERED SPEAKER PRESENT TO
SPEAK AT
THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 121181 IS NOW
CLOSED.
THIS CONCLUDES THE APRIL
2nd MEETING OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE
ON THE LIBRARY LEVY.
ALL RIGHT.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
THIS MEETING WILL ADJOURN.
AGAIN, EVERYONE, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN HERE TO
TALK TO US AND TELL USUS -- GIVE
US YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE LIBRARY
LEVY.
IT IS CLEAR WE ALL VERY
MUCH LOVE OUR LIBRARIESLIBRARIES
IN
SEATTLE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU TAKING TIME ON THIS EVENING
TO COME DOWN HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS,
IT'S 6:30 P.M. AND THIS MEETING
IS ADJOURNED.