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x185489
file data/cities/seattle/parsed/meetings/x185489.json
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"title": "Select Committee on the Library Levy 4/2/2026: Public Hearing",
"date": "2026-04-02",
"committee": "Select Committee on the Library Levy",
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"speakers": [
"CHAIR RIVERA",
"COUNCIL CHAIR AND",
"COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER",
"COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ",
"COUNCILMEMBER RINCK",
"COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS",
"GIVEN THAT AND FOLLOWING",
"GOOD AFTERNOON",
"GOOD EVENING",
"HELLO",
"HERE",
"HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT",
"I AM",
"I LOVE LIBRARIES",
"KOUP SILL MEMBER",
"LAUREN",
"MY NAME IS AMY AND I LIVE IN",
"MY NAME IS KATIE",
"MY NAME IS LAUREN AND I LIVE",
"SEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS ARE",
"TESTING",
"THANK YOU",
"THANK YOU SO MUCH",
"THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL",
"TIME IS UP"
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"date:2026-04-02"
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"text": "APOLOGIES FOR NEEDING A FEW\nMINUTES THERE TO GET OUR TECH.\nALL SET UP AND READY TO GO.\nSO HAPPY TO SEE EVERYONE\nHERE THIS EVENING.\nTHE APRIL 2nd, 2026, MEETING\nOF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON\nTHE LIBRARY LEVY WILL COME TO\nORDER.\nIT'S 5:35 P.M.\nI'M MARITZA RIVERA,\nCHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.\nWILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE\nROLL.\nKOUP SILL MEMBER: KOUP SILL MEMBER\nLIN?\nHERE: HERE.\nCOUNCILMEMBER RINCK: COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.\nHERE: HERE.\nCOUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS: COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.\nHERE: HERE.\nCOUNCILMEMBER FOSTER: COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.\nHERE: HERE.\nCOUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ: COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.\nCOUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.\nVICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.\nHERE: HERE.\nCHAIR RIVERA: CHAIR RIVERA.\nPRESENT.\nSEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS ARE: SEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS ARE\nPRESENT.\nTHANK YOU, CLERK.\nALL RIGHT, WELL, I WANT TO THANK\nYOU ALL FOR COMING\nTODAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU,\nCOLLEAGUES, AND MEMBERS OF THE\nPUBLIC\nAND ANYONE THAT IS JOINING US\nONLINE SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AS\nPART OF\nTHIS -- AND I WANT TO THANK\nYOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS\nAS PART OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.\nTHESE HEARINGS ARE REALLY AN\nIMPORTANT PART OF\nOUR LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.\nI AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR\nENGAGEMENT AND I AM REALLY\nLOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING\nYOUR WORDS TODAY.\nBEFORE WE START TODAY, I\nWANTED TO QUICKLY RECAP THE\nMAYOR'S\n$410 MILLION LEVY\nRENEWAL PROPOSAL, WHICH I\nSUPPORT.\nTHIS PROPOSAL IS 50% LARGER THAN\nTHE 2019 LEVY.\nTHAT'S ON TOP OF ACCOUNTING FOR\nINFLATION.\nI HAVE RECEIVED SOME EMAILS,\nAND, COLLEAGUES, YOU MAY HAVE\nAS WELL, DESCRIBING THIS LEVY AS\nSTATUS QUO.\nI'M NOT ALWAYS CERTAIN WHERE\nCONSTITUENTS RECEIVE\nINFORMATION AND WHAT IS OUT\nTHERE, BUT AS I\nJUST CONFIRMED, THIS LEVY IS 50%\nMORE THAN WHAT WOULD HAVE\nBEEN THE STATUS QUO.\nSTATUS QUO WOULD HAVE BEEN\nA BASELINE OF $219 MILLION PLUS\nINFLATION.\nBUT BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR\nLIBRARIES, WE MADE SURE\nTHAT, DESPITE THE LEVY CAP, WE\nHAD\nA PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDED NEW\nFUNDING. I'M RESTATING THIS\nBECAUSE I\nWANT TO MAKE SURE THAT\nCONSTITUENTS UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH\nIS ACTUALLY IN THE PACKAGE.\nI ALSO WANT TO ANSWER A QUESTION\nTHAT CAME UP IN\nOUR SELECT COMMITTEE EARLIER\nTHIS WEEK ABOUT FUNDING TO\nCOMPLETE THE\nHVAC SYSTEMS AT THE FIVE\nBRANCHES THAT NEED COOLING.\nTHERE WAS CONFUSION AS\nTO WHETHER OR NOT WE HAD A\nGRANT FROM FEMA TO DO THE WORK.\nI'M RELIEVED TO REPORT WE\nDO HAVE A LETTER, WHICH\nYOU RECEIVED TODAY,\nCOLLEAGUES, CONFIRMING THE GRANT\nTO ADD\nCOOLING TO THESE\nFIVE BRANCHES BY THE END OF NEXT\nYEAR.\nTHIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF MY\nOVERALL CONCERN WITH GOVERNMENT\nSPENDING AND MAKING DECISIONS\nBASEDBASED\nSPECULATION RATHER THAN REALITY.\nTHE REALITY IS WE HAVE A FEMA\nGRANT.\nAS TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING\nFOR DEFERRED AND ONGOING\nMAINTENANCE, THERE IS ALMOST\n$86 MILLION IN THIS PROPOSAL FOR\nTHAT PURPOSE OF WHICH ALMOST\n30 MILLION IS ACTUALLY NEW\nFUNDING.\nTHE LIBRARY INDICATED THEY\nWILL HAVE TO DO MORE WORK IN\nFIVE TO\nTEN YEARS BUT WE WILL HAVE A\nLEVY RENEWAL IN SEVEN YEARS\nWE CAN ADD MORE FUNDING TO.\nAS WE DO WITH ALL LEVY\nRENEWALS, WE ADD ADDITIONAL\nFUNDING\nEACH TIME TO DO MORE WORK.\nADDING THAT MONEY NOW\nDIMINISHES OUR ABILITY TO\nADDRESS\nPRESSING NEEDS TODAY.\nAT THE RISK OF SOUNDING LIKE A\nBROKEN RECORD, THIS IS A\nSOLID PROPOSAL THAT NOT ONLY\nADDS BASELINE PLUS INFLATION BUT\n50%\nMORE ON TOP OF THAT.\nWE NEED TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS\nDEFENSIBLE TO OUR RESIDENTS\nWHO ARE FOOTING THE BILL.\nWITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO\nOUR PUBLIC HEARING.\nIF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE\nAGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.\nHEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA\nIS ADOPTED.\nWILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ\nITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.\nAGENDA ITEM ONE, COUNCIL BILL\n121181. AN ORDINANCE RELATE TO\nGO REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES\nPROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO\nTHE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE\nCITY\nAT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON\nAUGUST 4, 2026, OF A PROPOSITION\nAUTHORIZING TO LEVY\nPROPERTY TAXES UP TO SEVEN YEARS\nIN EXCESS OF THE LIMITATION\nON LEVIES IN CHAPTER 84. 55 RCW\nFOR\nTECHNOLOGY, PROGRAMMING\nAND MAINTENANCE WHILE\nEXPANDING ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY\nTHROUGH LIBRARY MATERIALS,\nTECHNOLOGY\nAND UNDERTAKING A RETROFIT\nOF ONE LIBRARY FACILITY\nAND RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING\nCERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.\nTHANK YOU, CLERK.\nAS PRESIDING OFFICER, I'M NOW\nOPENING THE PUBLIC\nHEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 121181.\nCLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS\nARE SIGNED UP TODAY?\nCURRENTLY WE HAVE 30\nIN- PERSON SPEAKERS AND\nFIVE REMOTE SIGNED UP.\nGIVEN THAT AND FOLLOWING: GIVEN THAT AND FOLLOWING\nOUR COUNCIL RULES, EACH SPEAKER\nWILL HAVE ONE MINUTE.\nCLERK, I WILL NOW HAND THIS OVER\nTO YOU TO PRESENT\nTHE INSTRUCTIONS AND THEN I\nWILL READ THE NAMES FOR IN-\nPERSON\nSPEAKERS, AND WE WILL -- I\nWILL LET YOU READ THE\nINSTRUCTIONS.\nI THINK YOU HAVE THAT.\nTHE PUBLIC HEARING WILL: THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL\nBE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING\nMANNER.\nTHE PUBLIC HEARING WILL CONTINUE\nUNTIL ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS\nHAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO\nSPEAK.\nSPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN\nTHE ORDER THEY REGISTERED.\nWE WILL START WITH TEN IN-\nPERSON SPEAKERS AND ALTERNATE TO\nREMOTE\nSPEAKERS AND CONTINUE UNTIL ALL\nREGISTERED SPEAKERS HAVE SPOKEN.\nSPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME\nWHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF\nTHEIR\nTIME. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW\nOPEN. WE WILL\nBEGIN WITH THE FIRST\nSPEAKER ON THE LIST.\nALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, CLERK.\nMEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ALL\nTHREE MICS ARE WORKING,\nAND IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT --\nI'M GOING TO\nCALL A FEW AT A TIME, AND IF YOU\nWANT TO QUEUE UP, THAT\nMIGHT MAKE THE PROCESS RUN A\nLITTLE MORE SMOOTHLY.\nWE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH KATHY\nBENSON, THEN STEVE\nDELVECCHIO, CHERYL HAMMEL AND\nBRIAN LAWRENCE\nAND KATIE -- SORRY, I CAN'T --\nROSIPE.\nALL RIGHT.\nKATHY, WELCOME.\nMY NAME IS KATHY BENSON,\nAND I HAVE LIVED IN WEDGWOOD\nSINCE\n1990. I GO TO THE NORTHEAST\nBRANCH\nABOUT TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK.\nI WALK THERE.\nI GO THERE AND EVERY TIME I\nGO, IT BRINGS ME JOY.\nIT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO ME\nTO FUND BOOKS, PROGRAMS AND\nBUILDINGS BECAUSE I TAKE\nADVANTAGE OF SO MANY OF THE\nSERVICES OF THE LIBRARY\nAND WATCH PEOPLE AROUND ME DOING\nTHE\nSAME THING.\nI'M IN A BOOK CLUB.\nSOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT A\nVERY, VERY LONG TIME TO GET THE\nBOOK FOR OUR BOOK CLUB, SO I\nWON'T\nMIND IF WE HAVE A FEW\nMORE COPIES OF SOME BOOKS.\nI DON'T HAVE A TV, SO I\nTAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MOVIES AND\nTV SERIES THAT I CAN GET AT THE\nLIBRARY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE\nOF THE MEETING ROOMS.\nI JUST FIND JOY, FOR EXAMPLE,\nWHEN I WATCH A LITTLE KID\nSTEP UP ON THE STEP STOOL AND\nCHECK\nOUT HIS VERY OWN BOOKS.\nAS A SEATTLE TAXPAYER, I WANT TO\nSEE MORE\n--\nKATHY, I'M SORRY.\nI'M ALMOST OUT OF TIME?\nTIME IS UP: TIME IS UP.\nMY TIME IS UP, OKAY.\nPLEASE VOTE TO FUND ALL OF\nTHE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nBUT, KATHY, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR\nREMARKS IN THE BOX, AND THEN\nWE CAN SEE THE REST OF IT, IF\nYOU'D LIKE.\nALL RIGHT.\nSTEVE DELVECCHIO, SHARON HAMMEL,\nBRIAN LAWRENCE, KATIE AND JEN\nSOUTHWELL.\nWELCOME.\nHI. MY NAME IS STEVE DELVECCHIO.\nI LIVE IN WEDGWOOD.\nI'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THE\nAMENDMENTS PROPOSED\nBY COUNCILMEMBERS FOSTER,\nJUAREZ,\nLIN, RINCK AND STRAUSS.\nWITHOUT THEM, THIS LEVY WILL\nNOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE\nOF\nSEATTLE. I'VE BEEN A LIBRARY\nUSER\nFOR OVER 65 YEARS.\nI'VE\nALSO BEEN A LIBRARY VOLUNTEER\nSUPPORTER AND WORKER\nFOR MUCH OF THAT TIME.\nTHE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A\nREMARKABLE, UNIQUE AND\nALMOST MIRACULOUS SERVICE IN A\nSOCIETY AND CULTURE THAT IS\nLARGELY\nDEFINED BY GREED, POWER\nAND PROFIT FOR THE FEW.\nTHE LIBRARY IS DEFINED BY\nLOVE AND GENEROSITY.\nIT IS THE ONLY PLACE IN OUR\nCITY WHERE ANYONE CAN GO\nWITHOUT EXPLAINING OR\nIDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AND BE\nWELCOMED.\nIT IS A PLACE WHERE KIND,\nCARING AND EXPERT WORKERS\nWILL ENDEAVOR TO HELP YOU WITH\nWHAT YOU WANT\nOR NEED.\nTHIS WORK THAT LIBRARY WORKERS\nDO IS EXTRAORDINARY.\nIT ALSO IS DEMANDING, STRESSFUL\nAND AT TIMES TRAUMATIZING.\nMY PLEA IS YOU RECOGNIZE\nTHIS AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE\nTHE FUNDING FOR FRONTLINE\nLIBRARY STAFF WITHOUT DEMANDING\nAN INCREASE IN HOURS.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, STEVE.\nSHARON HAMMEL, BRIAN,\nKATIE, DAVID STRAUSS.\nHI, MY NAME IS SHARON\nHAMMEL, AND I LIVE IN NOW BOB\nKETTLE'S\nDISTRICT.\nI VOTED FOR\nEDDIE. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE\n-- I\nMOVED. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE\nSUPPORT\nALL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS\nIN THE LIBRARY LEVY.\nI'M ESPECIALLY SUPPORTIVE OF\nTHE AMENDMENTS FROM\nCOUNCILMEMBERS\nFOSTER, RINCK, LIN AND\nSTRAUSS TO SUPPORT LIBRARY\nSPACES AND\nEQUIPMENT.\nYOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO\nYOUR SANITY TO BE IN A NICE\nPLACE.\nTHE LIBRARY'S FEMA GRANT\nUNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION\nWILL HELP INSTALL AIR\nCONDITIONING\nAT BRANCHES, BUT THIS IS A ONE-\nTIME AWARD THAT DOES NOT PAY FOR\nTHE FULL COST OF THE WORK.\nWE'VE SEEN THAT IN THE LAST\nLEVY.\nFOR THE LIBRARY TO PROVIDE\nONGOING MAINTENANCE AND\nUPGRADES FOR HVAC AND MAINTAIN\nALL OF\nITS PHYSICAL BUILDINGS IT\nNEEDS CONSISTENT AND ONGOING\nFUNDING.\nTHE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS\nINCLUDE FOR A RETROFIT OF\nWEST SEATTLE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO\nTHE\nCHILDREN'S AREA.\nTHESE ARE ESSENTIAL.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, SHARON.\nBRIAN LAWRENCE, KATIE, JEN\nSOUTHWELL, DAVID STRAUSS AND\nGWEN. IF YOU WANT TO QUEUE UP,\nTHAT WOULD BE GREAT.\nTHANK YOU.\nI'M BRIAN LAWRENCE.\nMANY LEVY CONVERSATIONS\nHAVE CENTERED AROUND DOLLAR\nFIGURES AND LEVY CAPS, BUT ARE\nWE MISSING THE POINT?\nTHE POINT IS THE PEOPLE.\nTHE 50 KIDS TAKING PART\nIN SUMMER READING\nCELEBRATION AT THE WEST SEATTLE\nBRANCH.\nI JOYFULLY ADVOCATE FOR\nTHAT BRANCH TO BE AS SAFE AS\nPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE KIDS.\nTHE PATRONS I MET FROM\nARGENTINA, MEXICO, CHINA\nAND KOREA WHO GATHERED AT THE\nBEACON HILL BRANCH FOR THEIR\nENGLISH\nCONVERSATION CIRCLE, A\nRETIRED TEACHER WITH LIMITED\nINCOME,\nTHE HOURS OF ENJOYMENT SHE GETS\nFROM LIBRARY BOOKS HELP KEEP HER\nSANE\nAND AWAY FROM THE DEPRESSING TV\nNEWS.\nAND THE TWO ENTREPRENEURS I\nMET WHO WERE GETTING STEP-BY-\nSTEP\nINSTRUCTIONS FROM TOP-\nNOTCH LIBRARIANS\nON HOW TO START THEIR OWN\nNONPROFITS.\nTHE LIBRARY IS THE BEST\nINVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE\nIN CORE CITY SERVICES.\nIT HAS DELIVERED VALUE FOR\nDECADES, AND EVERY\nNEIGHBORHOOD FOR ALL AGES, FOR\nALL\nBACKGROUNDS. THE AMOUNTS WE ARE\nDEBATING\nOVER SEVEN YEARS WILL NOT BREAK\nOUR\nCITY.\nIN FACT, THEY'LL ENRICH OUR\nCITY AND MAKE IT STRONGER.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, BRIAN.\nKATIE -- I'M SO SORRY I'M\nMISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME,\nI CAN'T READ.\nI'M SUBBING IN FOR KATIE.\nKATIE TOOK MY NUMBER 22 BECAUSE\nI HAVE MY KID HERE AND SHE\nLET ME GO FIRST BECAUSE SHE\nLOVES\nTHE LIBRARY AND IS NICE.\nSO YOU'RE SUSAN?\nI AM: I AM\nSUSAN.\nHI, SUSAN.\nWELCOME.\nEVERYONE, MY NAME IS SUSAN\nLU, THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE\nDIRECTOR IN THE CID AND A LOCAL\nAUTHOR. I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS\nAMENDMENT\nTO ADD TO THE LIBRARY\nLEVY, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.\nWHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD,\nMY MOTHER DIED FROM A BOTCHED\nTUMMY TUCK, AND MY FAMILY NEVER\nTALKED\nABOUT IT. AS CHILDREN OF\nVIETNAMESE\nIMMIGRANTS, WE DID NOT HAVE\nTHE TOOLS TO TALK ABOUT GRIEF OR\nOUR FEELINGS, AND I WENT TO\nTHE SAFEST PLACE IN MY LIFE\nWHICH WAS THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.\nTHE BOOKS THERE OPENED ME UP\nTO THE REST OF THE WORLD AND IT\nLED ME TO THE CAMPUSES OF\nHARVARD AND YALE AND EVENTUALLY\nI DOCUMENTED MY JOURNEY WITH\nINTERGENERATIONAL\nHEALING, MY MEMOIR, THE\nMARIJUANA NICURIST'S\nDAUGHTER AND I'VE MET SO MANY\nREADERS, I'VE NEVER A YOUNG MAN\nWHO WAS ESTRANGED FROM HIS\nMOTHER, WHO AFTER READING THIS\nBOOK DECIDED TO CALL HER AFTER\nTHREE YEARS.\nA WOMAN WHO WAS GOING TO\nGET PLASTIC SURGERY WITH FOUR\nKIDS MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE\nBECAUSE OF THIS BOOK.\nPLEASE PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES\nFOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HEAL\nBECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE WILL\nSERVE OUR COMMUNITY.\nAND MY 6-YEAR- OLD HAS SOMETHING\nTO SAY.\nI LOVE LIBRARIES: I LOVE LIBRARIES.\nGIVE\nTHEM MONEY.\nTHANK YOU SO MUCH: THANK YOU SO MUCH.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, SUSAN.\nJEN SOUTHWELL, DAVID STRAUSS,\nGWEN, AND LAURA MILLER.\nWELCOME.\nHOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT: HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT?\nMY NAME IS JEN\nSOUTHWELL AND I'VE BEEN ON THE\nFOUNDATION BOARD FOR SEVEN\nYEARS.\nI JOINED RIGHT WHEN WE\nPASSED THE LAST LIBRARY LEVY AND\nI'VE SEEN IT IN ACTION AND I'M\nSO\nHAPPY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE\nLIBRARY\nTODAY. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE\nSUPPORT ALL THE FUNDED\nAMENDMENTS\nFOR THE LIBRARY LEVY.\nI'M ESPECIALLY INTERESTED\nIN COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S\nAMENDMENT TO THE FUND THE\nSEISMIC\nRETROFIT BRANCH.\nI'M A REGULAR USER OF ALL THE\nLIBRARIES. WE MUST RETROFIT THE\nCOLUMBIA BRANCH TO FULFILL THE\nNEEDS\nOF THE LAST LIBRARY.\nIT IS CRITICAL TO RETROFIT\nTHE WEST SEATTLE BRANCH.\nAND TO DO THAT IT MUST FIRST BE\nFUNDED.\nSO COUNCILMEMBER\nRINCK'S AMENDMENT DOES EXACTLY\nTHAT.\nAND, YOU KNOW, THE BEST TIME\nTO FUND A RETROFIT IS\nBEFORE WE HAVE THAT NEXT\nEARTHQUAKE.\nSO PLEASE VOTE YES TO FUND\nTHIS CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEED\nIN WEST SEATTLE.\nTHANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT\nTO\nOUR LIBRARY AND OUR CITY.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nDAVID STRAUSS, GWEN, JANEL AND\nMAY I ASK EVERYONE TO DO JAZZ\nHANDS INSTEAD OF\nCLAPPING. I WOULD APPRECIATE\nTHAT.\nWELCOME.\nI'M DAVID STRAUSS.\nI'M A RESIDENT OF QUEEN ANNE.\nI LIVE A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY\nFROM THE QUEEN ANNE BRANCH\nLIBRARY.\nI DO URGE YOU HUMBLY TO\nSUPPORTSUPPORT\nAMENDMENTS TO THE LEVY.\nTHE IMPORTANCE OF BOOKS IN\nOUR COMMUNITY IS REAL AND THEY\nARE AMONG THE THINGS THAT WE\nCAN TOUCH AND SHARE EVEN ACROSS\nMILES, AND SO THEY'RE\nBOTH SOCIALLY GALVANIZING AND\nCULTURALLY EXPANDING.\nBOOKS ARE SORT OF\nUNCHARACTERISTICALLY A SORT OF\nREALLY IMPORTANT PART OF EVEN\nOUR DIGITAL AGE.\nI WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY WE NEED\nTHESE BUILDINGS. WE NEED THESE\nBUILDINGS TO\nBE IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY.\nTHEY'RE STILL COMMUNITY MARKERS\nAND REFUGES FOR SO MANYMANY\nPEOPLE,\nAND SO MANY\nOF US IN SEATTLE. THANKS VERY\nMUCH.\nTHANK YOU, DAVID.\nGWEN, JANEL BLAKELY AND LAURA\nMILLER.\nTESTING: TESTING.\nGOOD EVENING.\nMY NAME IS GWEN GERONIMO\nFROM WEST SEATTLE.\nI'M HUMBLY ASKING YOU TOTO\nTHE EXTRA FUNDING FOR\nBOOKS, PROGRAMS AND THE\nBUILDINGS\nOF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.\nIT'S A SANCTUARY FOR --\nAGAINST THE COLD SEATTLE\nWINTERS AS WELL AS THE HOT\nSEATTLE SUMMERS,\nSOMETHING I DIDN'T EXPECT WHEN\nI CAME HERE FROM HAWAII.\nIT ALSO GAVE ME ACCESS TO BOTH\nA COMPUTER AND A PRINTER, WHICH\nALLOWED ME TO VOLUNTEER\nFOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AROUND\nTHE STATE AND EVENTUALLY LANDING\nA JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF OWE\nOCOLOGY.\nI WAS ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO\nTHE COMMUNITY I CARE FOR\nAND EVENTUALLY HELP PROTECT\nTHE WATERS OF THE STATE THAT I\nLOVE.\nPLEASE -- OH, MY GOODNESS,\nSORRY. PLEASE VOTE YES FOR ALL\nTHE\nFUNDED AMENDMENTS.\nTHANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.\nTHANK YOU, GWEN.\nJANEL BLAKELY AND LAURA MILLER\nAND THEN\nWE'LL GO TO ONLINE\nSPEAKERS. WELCOME.\nGOOD EVENING: GOOD EVENING.\nMY NAME IS JANEL BLAKELY.\nI'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE\nSUPPORT ALL THE FUNDED\nAMENDMENTS TO\nTHE LIBRARY LEVY.\nI WANT TO PROVIDE ONE NOTE\nON THE CITY'S LEVY CAPACITY.\nYOU MAY HAVE SEEN IT\nREPORTED, INCLUDING IN AN\nARTICLE THIS\nMORNING, THAT A $410\nMILLION LEVY WOULD PUSH OUR\nPROPERTY\nTAX NUMBER FROM $3. 02 TO $3.21.\nTHIS IS INACCURATE.\nIT DOES NOT COUNT FOR THE 2019\nLIBRARY LEVY COSTS ROLLING OFF.\nIT ALSO MISSTATES THE\nSTARTING PLACE OF THE CITY'S\nCURRENT\nREGULAR LEVY RATE, WHICH IS\n$2.96. IT IS MORE ACCURATE TO\nSTATE THAT A $410 MILLION\nREPLACEMENT LIBRARY WOULD TAKE\nTHE CITY FROM\n$2.96 TO $3. 03, AN INCREASE OF\nJUST 7 CENTS.\nADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS\nONLY INCREASE THAT BY A FEW\nCENTS.\nPLEASE DON'T USE PAST\nLEVY DECISIONS OR AN UNCERTAIN\nFUTURE TO SHORTCHANGE THE\nLIBRARY\nIN THE PRESENT, PULLING SHOWS\nTHAT OUR CITY WANTS AND EXPECTS\nTO SEE A LIBRARY LEVY.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, JANEL.\nWE'LL GO TO ONLINE SPEAKERS.\nJUST SO YOU KNOW WHO IS UP NEXT.\nHI, COUNCILMEMBERS.\nMY NAME IS LAURA MILLER.\nI LIVE ON BEACON HILL AND\nSERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE\nFRIENDS\nOF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.\nI'M ALSO AN EDUCATOR AND\nA DOCTORAL CANDIDATE AT SEATTLE\nUNIVERSITY. I STRONGLY SUPPORT\nTHE PROPOSED\nAMENDMENTS TO INCREASE THE\nLIBRARY LEVY\nESPECIALLY COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S\nAMENDMENT TO\nMAKE SURE OUR LIBRARY BUILDINGS\nARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED\nINCLUDING HAVING\nADEQUATE COOLING.\nI'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW\nPOWERFUL\nLIBRARIES ARE FOR STUDENTS.\nI'VE HAD STUDENTS CHASE A\nRESEARCH QUESTION FROM\nTHE CLASSROOM TO THEIR LOCAL\nBRANCH\nALL THE WAY TO THE LIBRARY OF\nCONGRESS WITH THE HELP\nOF AMAZING LIBRARIANS.\nBUT THAT ONLY WORKS\nIF THE SPACE ITSELF SUPPORTS\nLEARNING.\nSAFE, WELCOMING AIR-\nCONDITIONED SPACES MATTER\nESPECIALLY IN\nNEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE AS HEAT\nBECOMES MORE OF AN ISSUE.\nIT'S AN INVESTMENT NOT JUST\nIN OUR BUILDINGS, IN THE\nSTUDENTS\nAND COMMUNITIES WHO RELY ON\nTHEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR\nLEADERSHIP AND FOR SUPPORTING\nOUR LIBRARIES.\nTHANK YOU, LAURA.\nALL RIGHT.\nWE'RE GOING TO ONLINE SPEAKERS.\nI DON'T SEE JUSTIN BAIRD\nPRESENT\nSO TO COLLEEN.\nPLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND YOU MAY\nBEGIN.\nGOOD EVENING, CITY\nCOUNCILMEMBERS.\nMY NAME IS COLLEEN, LONG- TERM\nRESIDENT OF SEATTLE, LIVED\nIN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND\nTODAY REPRESENTING OUR\nNEIGHBORHOODS WITH YOUNG\nCHILDREN AND\nSENIORS WHOSE GO- TO PLACE IS\nTHE PUBLIC\nLIBRARY.\nWHEN THE CITY STARTED\nARTICLE NUMBER 12 REQUIRES A\nLIBRARY\nFUND AT ITS ORIGINS.\nTHAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS\nAND WAS PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY THE\nCITY'S GENERAL FUND.\nNOW IT'S SHIFTED TO RESIDENTS\nAND PROPERTY OWNERS WHICH\nMEANS RENTERS PAY THAT IN THEIR\nRENTS AND HOMEOWNERS PAY IT AS\nWELL.\nSO AT $410 MILLION THE LIBRARY\nLEVY IS NEARLY DOUBLE FROM THE\nTAX OF THETHE ONE TO\nCOVER ALL OF ITS EXPENSES.\nWE SUPPORT THIS LIBRARY LEVY BUT\nREJECT ALL OF THE NEW\nVERY EXPENSIVE AMENDMENTS\nTHAT TAXPAYERS SIMPLY CANNOT\nAFFORD.\nTHERE ARE\nREAL CONCERNS WITH THIS\nADDITIONAL TAX\nLEVY REQUIRES THE CITY TO EXCEED\nITS LEVY LIMITS IN CHAPTER 84.\n55\nRCW AND MORE PUTS SEATTLE AT\nDANGEROUSLY HIGH TAX LIMITS,\nTHE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.\nWHILE EVERYBODY IS WELL MEANING\nABOUT THE BOOKS, WE ALSO HAVE\nTO PAY THE\nBILLS. THE CITY COUNCIL MUST\nBE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE NOT\nTO PROPOSE TO EXCEED THE\n$410 MILLION LEVY PROPOSALS.\nSEATTLE PROPERTY TAXES\nHAVE ALREADY PAID FOR PARKS AND\nLEVIES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY AND\nPRESCHOOLS TO PROVIDE\nRESOURCES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND\nGROWN-UPS.\nTHANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND\nKEEPING SEATTLE AFFORDABLE.\nTHANK YOU, COLLEEN.\nI DON'T SEE DAVID HAYNES\nPRESENT.\nSO ANN TYSON, YOU CAN PRESS\nSTAR 6, AND YOU MAY BEGIN.\nALL RIGHT. WE'LL COME BACK TO\nYOU, ANN.\nAMY, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND YOU\nMAY BEGIN.\nGOOD EVENING, CHAIR\nRIVERA AND OTHER\nCOUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS AMY\nTHEOBALD\nA RESIDENT OF CAPITOL HILL\nIN COUNCILMEMBER\nHOLLINGSWORTH'S\nDISTRICT. AND I WANT TO START BY\nSTATING MY SUPPORT FOR THE\nLIBRARY LEVY\nAND THE AMENDMENTS.\nI ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE\nTHE ADDITION TO SUPPORT\nTHE EXPANSION OF EBOOKS, WHICH I\nTEND TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS\nAND THE SUPPORT FOR ESL\nPROGRAMS.\nMY MOTHER WAS A PUBLIC\nLIBRARIAN WHO INSTILLED IN ME,\nMY\nBROTHER AND MY SISTER, A DEEP\nLOVE\nFOR READING AND BOOKS.\nMY SISTER WENT ON TO EARN\nHER Ph.D. IN ENGLISH.\nFOR ME, READING AND GAINING\nKNOWLEDGE HAS ALWAYS SHAPED MY\nWORLD VIEW.\nIT HAS MADE ME A MORE\nACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN SOCIETY\nAND\nOUR DEMOCRATIC WAYS OF LIFE.\nI ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE\nLIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS\nAND STRONGLY SUPPORT INVESTING\nIN THE MATERIALS, THE COLLECTION\nOF\nBOOKS AND PROGRAMMING SO\nTHAT WE CAN ALL\nCONTINUE TO SHARE IN THESE RICH\nRE SOURCES.\nPLEASE INVEST IN OUR LIBRARY.\nSEATTLE IS A WONDERFUL PLACE\nTO LIVE BECAUSE OF THE LIBRARY.\nTHIS LEVY IS ONLY SEVEN YEARS.\nTHANK YOU, AMY.\nIF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL\nCOMMENTS, PLEASE DO EMAIL THEM\nIN TO\nCOUNCIL.\nALL RIGHT.\nWE'LL GO BACK TO ANN TYSON.\nANN, PRESS STAR 6, AND YOU MAY\nBEGIN.\nGOOD AFTERNOON: GOOD AFTERNOON.\nI'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT\nLIVING NEAR THE INTERSEA BRANCH\nAND MY\nFAMILY AND I AND MANY\nOTHER NEIGHBORHOODS VISIT\nUNIVERSITY, NORTHEAST BRANCH,\nDOWNTOWN\nLIBRARIES.\nWE LOVE THE STORY TIMES,\nTHE SUMMER READING PROGRAMS,\nQUIET STUDY AND WORK ROOMS AND\nALSO THE EXCELLENT RESEARCH\nSUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE\nLIBRARIES.\nWE'VE ALSO VOLUNTEERED WITH\nFRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OVER\nMANY YEARS, SO THIS IS A\nFANTASTIC\nRESOURCE FOR ALL SEATTLE\nCITIZENS WHETHER CHILDRENS OR\nSTUDENTS AND I URGE YOU TO\nVOTE YES AND PASS THE GENEROUS\n$410 MILLION LIBRARY LEVY.\nI ALSO AGREE IT SHOULD BE\nCAPPED AT THAT AMOUNT TO\nMAINTAIN\nFISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND\nTHE EQUITABLE NATURE OF THIS\nSUPPORT. THANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, ANN.\nI DON'T SEE JUSTIN OR DAVID\nSO I'LL GO BACK TO IN- PERSON\nSPEAKERS.\nWE WILL START WITH NEAL, FAITH,\nTIFFANY,\nSTEPHANIE ACTIONED ROD AND MANDY\nTOOMEY.\nHI.\nHI, COUNCILMEMBERS.\nMY NAME IS NELU AND\nA MEMBER OF THE JOINT ADVOCACY\nCOMMITTEE AND\nA LIFELONG LIBRARY LOVER.\nWHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY\nSCHOOL MY FAMILY COULDN'T\nREALLY\nAFFORD BOOKS, BUT I WAS AN AVID\nREADER.\nTHE LIBRARY WAS A TREASURE.\nTODAY I ORGANIZE A BOOK\nCLUB THAT SPANS GENERATIONS\nFROM PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s TO A\nMEMBER OVER 85 YEARS OLD WHO\nSOMETIMES MISSES MEETINGS FOR\nHER DANCE\nCOMPETITIONS.\nTHAT'S THE KIND OF COMMUNITY\nTHE LIBRARY MAKES POSSIBLE.\nTHAT'S WHY I\nSUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S\nAMENDMENT\nTO INCREASE ACCESS TO BOOKS.\nIT HELPS SUSTAIN\nTHESE CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE\nCITY.\nWE HAD OUR MEETING JUST LAST\nNIGHT AND ONE OF OUR\nELDER MEMBERS WANTED ME TO PASS\nON THAT AT THIS TIME LIBRARIES\nARE AN INCREDIBLE INSTITUTION\nTHAT NEED, PROVIDES\nPUBLIC SERVICES AT FREE ACCESS,\nA PLACE\nFOR TRUTH, FOR DEMOCRACY AND\nKNOWLEDGE.\nI PLEASE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT OUR\nLIBRARY, SUPPORT\nDEMOCRACY, AND SUPPORT OUR\nREADERS.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, NELU.\nFAITH, TIFFANY, STEPHANIE AND\nMANDY TOOMEY.\nGREAT. THANK YOU,\nCOUNCILMEMBERS.\nMY NAME IS FAITH PETTIS AND I'M\nA TRUSTEE FOR THE SEATTLE\nPUBLIC\nLIBRARY HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF\nOF THE\nBOARD OF TRUSTEES. IN THE RECENT\nOP- ED BY BOARD\nCOLLEAGUE AND FRIENDS SAID IT\nWELL.\nYOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY\nTO APPROVE A LEVY THAT MATCHES\nWHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS FROM\nITS\nLIBRARY. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS\nFOR\nCOLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS AND\nCAPITAL PROJECTS AND MAINTENANCE\nMEET THOSE IMPORTANT GOALS.\nI ASK YOU TO APPROVE THEM\nSO THAT OUR LIBRARY CAN ACHIEVE\nITS\nSTRATEGIC GOALS AND SERVE\nALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS.\nI WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE\nTHAT THE BOARD TAKES VERY\nSERIOUSLY\nOUR COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING\nTHE PROJECTS FUNDED IN EACH\nAPPROVED LEVY.\nTHE LIBRARY HAS A CLEAR\nTRACK RECORD OF DELIVERING WHAT\nWE PROMISED AND I AM\nCONFIDENT WE WILL DO THIS GOING\nFORWARD.\nTHANK YOU FOR\nALL YOUR WORK ON\nTHESE AMENDMENTS AND\nCOLLABORATION.\nTHANK YOU, FAITH.\nTIFFANY, STEPHANIE AXELROD,\nMANDY TOOMEY, MATT HILLMAN.\nGO AHEAD,\nTIFFANY.\nTHANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.\nMY NAME IS TIFFANY.\nI AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.\nI LIVE IN RAINIER BEACH WHERE\nSAFETY IS A PARAMOUNT CONCERN\nAND, FOR ME, LIBRARIES ARE\nAN IMPORTANT PART OF SAFETY.\nWHEN I GO TO THE RAINIER BEACH\nBRANCH, I SEE YOUTH\nGETTING TUTORING AND HAVING\nACTIVITIES LIKE A LEGO CLUB AND\nDIFFERENT STORY TIMES.\nAND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE\nTHOSE THIRD SPACES.\nNOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY\nBUT ALSO FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE.\nHAVING THIRD SPACES AND\nCLIMATE- CONTROLLED SPACES\nIN PARTICULAR IS REALLY\nIMPORTANT.\nNEIGHBORS WHO KNOW EACH OTHER\nCAN CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.\nCOMMUNITY COHESION\nBOOSTS RESILIENCE TO EMERGENCIES\nAND SO I AM VERY\nMUCH IN SUPPORT OF MY\nCOUNCILMEMBER LIN'S\nAMENDMENT REGARDING DEFERRED\nMAINTENANCE.\nTHANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR\nCOMMITMENT TO LIBRARIES AND\nOUR CITY.\nTHANK YOU, TIFFANY.\nSTEPHANIE AXELROD, MANDY\nTOOMEY, MATT HILLMAN, AMY\nSOLOMON.\nAND\nYOU CAN PLEASE STEP UP IF YOU\nWANT TO TO ONE OF THE\nMICS IF YOU'RE NEXT.\nHELLO: HELLO.\nSTEPHANIE, GO AHEAD.\nSORRY.\nNO, I'M SORRY.\nI'M STEPHANIE AXELROD.\nTHANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA, AND\nCOUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A PROPERTY\nOWNER\nIN HAWTHORNE HILLS IN DISTRICT\nFOUR. I'VE RAISED A FAMILY OF\nREADERS.\nMY HUSBAND IS HERE.\nHE'S A READER.\nWE PASSED THAT ON TO OUR\nSONS, ISAAC AND JERROD.\nI KNOW THAT MANY\nPEOPLE, HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS\nALIKE, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT\nRISING\nTHE GOOD NEWS IS THE LIBRARY\nREPRESENTS A TINY PORTION OF\nTHE OVERALL PROPERTY TAXES AND\nPAYS OFF OUR COMMUNITY MANY\nTIMES\nOVER.\nLIBRARY PROGRAMS HELP\nEMPOWER MANY IMMIGRANTS,\nREFUGEES, ASPIRING BUSINESS\nOWNERS, AND\nTHEY SUCCEED IN THE WORK PLACE.\nDOING SO BENEFITS NOT JUST\nTHOSE INDIVIDUALS BUT OUR\nECONOMY\nOVERALL. EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE\nTHOSE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, WHEN\nYOU SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE\nLIBRARY\nLEVY, YOU CONTRIBUTE TO\nBOTH PERSONAL SUCCESS OF\nNEIGHBORS\nIN THE COMMUNITY OVERALL.\nTHANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING\nAMENDMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE\nTHAT ARE PROPOSING FOR EXPANDED\nMULTILINGUAL PROGRAMMING, AND I\nCAN'T THINK OF A BETTER USE OF\nTAXPAYER DOLLARS.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, STEPHANIE.\nMANDY TOOMEY, MATT\nHILLMAN, AMY SOLOMON AND\nFLORENCE LARSON.\nMANDY, GO AHEAD.\nGOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.\nCOUNCILMEMBER\nHOLLINGSWORTH, YOU ARE MY\nCOUNCILMEMBER.\nTHE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, TO\nME, REPRESENTS THE BEST OF\nSOCIETY.\nIT REPRESENTS\nINFORMATION SHARING AND\nCOMMUNITY\nBUILDING AND NOT CONSUMERISM.\nPEOPLE AT THE LIBRARY ARE\nTREATED WITH DIGNITY REGARDLESS\nOF WHERE THEY'RE FROM AND WHERE\nTHEY'RE LIVING.\nI WAS LISTENING TO MAYOR WILSON\nSPEAK EARLIER THIS WEEK\nABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS,\nWHICH\nWE DEFINITELY SEE ON THE STREETS\nOF CAPITOL HILL, AND I FEEL THAT\nINVESTING IN LIBRARIES IS PART\nOF THAT SOLUTION.\nTHAT'S WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF THE\nPROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ADD\nMORE FUNDS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.\nI ALSO HAVE TO SAY AS A\nFORMERFORMER I LOVE\nVOLUNTEERING WITH THE HOMEWORK\nHELP\nPROGRAM WHERE I CAN SIT SIDE-BY-\nSIDE WITH IMMIGRANT STUDENTS\nWORKING\nMOSTLY ON THEIR MATH, WHICH IS A\nCHALLENGE FOR ME.\nTHE LIBRARY IS MORE THAN BOOKS.\nIT'S KNOWLEDGE.\nIT'S COMMUNITY.\nIT'S DIGNITY.\nIT'S IMPORTANT TO INVEST IN THE\nTHINGS THAT WE LOVE, THINGS\nTHAT BUILD OUR SOCIETY.\nTHANK\nYOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.\nTHANK YOU, MANDY,\nAND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING.\nMATT, AMY, AND JOHN.\nMATT?\nHELLO, CHAIR RIVERA AND\nCOUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MATT\nHILLMAN, A\nLONGTIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT\nTHREE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE\n--\nBOARD PRESIDENT OF THE\nSEATTLE LIBRARY FOUNDATION AND\nCO- AUTHOR\nOF THE EDITORIAL ENCOURAGING\nA STRONGER LIBRARY\nLEVY. I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE\nAMENDMENTS TO THE LEVY\nDEEPENING THE SUPPORT FOR\nLIBRARY\nFACILITIES, COLLECTIONS AND\nPROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR\nYOUR\nTHOUGHTFUL ATTENTION TO\nCREATING A LIBRARY LEVY THAT\nGIVES\nOUR COMMUNITY THE LIBRARY IT\nURGENTLY WANTS AND NEEDS.\nI WANT TO CALL SPECIAL\nATTENTION TO COUNCILMEMBER\nRINCK'S AMENDMENT TO EXPAND\nEBOOKS.\nA FEW DAYS AGO I WENT INTO\nMY NEIGHBORHOOD BOOKSTORE\nAND BOUGHT A COPY OF A NEW BOOK\n\"THE KEEPER\" AS SOON AS IT WAS\nRELEASED.\nI CAN AFFORD TO TAKE TIME IN\nTHE MIDDLE OF MY DAY ANDAND\nSHELL\n$35 FOR A NEW HARD COVER.\nWHY SHOULD ONLY PEOPLE LIKE\nME BE ABLE TO READ NEW RELEASES\nTHE DAY THEY COME OUT AND BE\nABLE\nTO TAKE PART IN THE\nNATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE\nLATEST GREAT STORY OR IMPORTANT\nISSUE?\nIT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO\nPARTICIPATE IN THESE\nCONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, MATT.\nAMY SOLOMON, FLORENCE LARSON,\nAMY -- I'M SO SORRY IF I'M\nBUTCHERING YOUR NAME -- JOHN.\nAMY SOLOMON.\nYES, I'M AMY SOLOMON, A\nLONG TIME RESIDENT OF CAPITOL\nHILL\nIN DISTRICT THREE.\nI SERVE ON THE\nLIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD.\nPLEASE ADOPT THE PROPOSED\nAMENDMENTS TO THE\nLIBRARY LEVY AND APPROVE THEM\nFOR\nINCLUSION ON THE AUGUST BALLOT.\nA RECENT EXAMPLE OF PROGRAMMING\nIS THE GLOBAL READING CHALLENGE.\nFOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS HAD\nA WINNING TEAM OF SIX FOURTH\nGRADERS FROM JOHN STANFORD\nSCHOOL.\nIT TIES READING\nCOMPREHENSION, TEAM BUILDING,\nLIFE SKILLS TO\nBOOKS. THEN THE ISSUE OF\nDEFERRED\nMAINTENANCE, TOTALLY DIFFERENT.\nHUGELY RELEVANT TO THE BRICK\nAND MORTAR AND DIJ GITAL NEEDS\nOF\nTHE LIE BEAR SYSTEM.\nCOSTS ESCALATE AND ACCESS IS\nDISRUPTIVE IF WE IGNORE\nTHE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.\nAT THE COMMITTEE\nMEETING SOME OF YOU RELATED YOUR\nOWN\nEXPERIENCES OF THE TANGIBLE\nVALUE OF THE\nLIBRARY.\nWHEN PEOPLE SHARE THESE\nMOVING STORIES TO DESCRIBE\nSOMETHING MEANINGFUL IN THEIR\nLIVES\nWITH SOMEONE ELSE, IT CREATES A\nSPACE AND A STARTING POINT FOR\nMUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND\nRESPECT.\nTHANK YOU SO MUCH.\nTHANK YOU, AMY.\nI JUST WANT TO SAY, COLLEAGUES,\nFOR THE RECORD COUNCILMEMBER\nKETTLE HAS JOINED US, AND JOINED\nUS A LITTLE BIT AGO.\nSO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER\nKETTLE. WE HAVE FLORENCE LARSON,\nAMY,\nJOHN, JEFF AND THEN KATIE.\nALL RIGHT.\nFLORENCE.\nHELLO: HELLO.\nMY NAME IS FLORENCE LARSON,\nAND I LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL,\nSO DISTRICT THREE.\nAND I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE\nSUPPORT ALL THE FUNDED\nAMENDMENTS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.\nI WANT TO ESPECIALLY NOTE HOW\nPROPOSED LEVY AND AMENDMENTS\nWOULD SUPPORT OUR\nAMAZING LIBRARY STAFF, AND I\nKNOW A FEW\nOF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE\nLIBRARIAN, AND I CERTAINLY DO,\nTOO.\nTHE PROPOSAL WOULD EXPAND STAFF\nCAPACITY FOR PROGRAMMING AND\nOUTREACH ADDING MORE\nEMPLOYEES TO DO THIS ESSENTIAL\nWORK AND\nFREEING UP ESSENTIAL STAFF TO\nDO WHAT THEY DO BEST.\nI THINK COUNCILMEMBER RINCK --\nI THANK COUNCILMEMBER RINCK\nFOR RECOGNIZING THAT EXPANDING\nTHE COLLECTION WILL REQUIRE\nTHOSE DEDICATED STAFF TO\nSUPPORT PURCHASING INVENTORY AND\nMORE\nTO PROVIDE PEOPLE THE BOOKS THEY\nWANT.\nPLEASE VOTE YES TO SUPPORT\nLIBRARIES.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, FLORENCE.\nAMY -- HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE\nYOUR LAST NAME?\nTHANK YOU.\nAMY, GO AHEAD.\nMY NAME IS AMY AND I LIVE IN: MY NAME IS AMY AND I LIVE IN\nLOWER QUEEN ANNE AND I AM URGING\nTHE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPAND THE\nLEVY.\nI GREW UP IN LOW-\nINCOME HOUSEHOLD WITH MY PARENTS\nBEING FROM A REFUGEE AND\nIMMIGRANT\nBACKGROUND AND WE RELIED ON\nTHE LIBRARY TO ACCESS COMMUNITY\nRESOURCES AND IT'S WHERE I\nFOSTERED MY LOVE OF LEARNING AND\nLITERACY. AS AN EXPECTING\nPARENT,\nI THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT\nTHAN\nEVER FOR THE COMING GENERATION\nTO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE\nCRITICAL COMMUNITY SPACES.\nI'M ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE\nTETCH OF THE AMENDMENTS CO-\nSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER\nFOSTER AND\nJUAREZ FOR PROGRAMS THAT\nARE GOING TO SUPPORT\nMULTILINGUAL\nENGLISH LEARNERS AND\nREALLY REFLECT THE DEVERSETY OF\nTHE COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE\nESPECIALLY\nNOW DURING THIS TIME OF\nHEIGHTENED\nMISINFORMATION, CENSORSHIP AND\nWEALTH\nINEQUALITY. WE NEED THE\nINVESTMENT\nIN EQUITABLE SPACES.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, AMY.\nJOHN, JEFF AND KATIE.\nI'M SORRY ABOUT THE NAME.\nJOHN.\nGOOD EVENING: GOOD EVENING.\nGOOD EVENING: GOOD EVENING.\nI'M JOHN MEDEROS,\nA RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND\nI'M A REGULAR USER OF THE\nMAGNOLIA BRANCH LIBRARY.\nI'M NOT HERE TO ADVOCATE\nFOR FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR\nBRANCH.\nRATHER, I BELIEVE THE LIBRARY IS\nA CORNERSTONE OF EFFORTS TO TO\nPROMOTE LITERACY AND LOVE\nOF LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.\nWE NEED TO REGARD THE\nLIBRARY LEVY AS AN INVESTMENT\nPROGRAM.\nINVESTMENT IN OUR YOUNGER\nGENERATIONS AND IN THE FUTURE OF\nOUR SOCIETY.\nAT A TIME WHEN OUR\nNATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS SO SADLY\nGOING IN\nPRECISELY THE WRONG DIRECTION,\nCUTTING INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH,\nEDUCATION, SCIENCE, WE MUST ACT\nLOCALLY TO ENSURE SEATTLE HAS A\nDIVERSE, LITERATE AND WELL\nINFORMED POPULATION.\nOUR DEMOCRACY NEEDS STRONG\nLIBRARIES. FOR THAT REASON I\nHOPE\nTHE COUNCIL WILL ENDORSE\nIN PARTICULAR THE AMENDMENTS BY\nCOUNCILMEMBERS FOSTER AND JUAREZ\nTHAT WILL INCREASE THE CITYWIDE\nIMPACT OF THE LIBRARY'S\nPROGRAMS.\nI THANK THE COUNCILMEMBERS\nFOR YOUR ATTENTION.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nJEFF AND THEN KATIE AND\nTHEN LAUREN AND JENNIFER.\nGOOD EVENING: GOOD EVENING.\nMY NAME IS JEFF AND I AM\nA RESIDENT OF WEST SEATTLE.\nI READ A BOOK IN THE THIRD\nGREAT.\nIT WAS TITLED \"MY LIFE AS\nA POTATO AND HOW IT ENDED.\n\"I WAS INCREDIBLY PROUD\nWHEN THAT BOOK WON A CLASS\nCOMPETITION, WAS GIVEN ITS OWN\nDEWY DECIMAL NUMBER AND PUT\nIN THE LIBRARY.\nSINCE THEN I'VE BEEN\nA PASSIONATE LIFELONG READER.\nTHE CONVENIENCE I GET FROM THE\nSEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS FIRST\nCLASS, BUT EVEN IF TOO OFTEN\nI'M WAITING FOR SOME OF THE\nBOOKS\nI PUT ON HOLD FOR FAR TOO LONG.\nI DON'T MIND PAYING TAXES FOR\nTHE THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY\nAND THE THINGS THAT BUILD\nCOMMUNITY\nHERE IN OUR CITY AND THE\nLIBRARY DOES BOTH OF THOSE\nTHINGS.\nI'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR\nAMENDMENTS TO INCREASE THE\nCOLLECTIONS BOTH DIGITAL AND\nPEAK PICKS AND TO UPDATE OUR\nBRANCH IN WEST SEATTLE.\nI ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THE\nLIBRARY AND ITS ASSOCIATED\nAMENDMENTS.\nMY LIFE AS A POTATO ENDED WITH\nME BEING FRENCH FRIED.\nHOW ELSE WOULD IT HAVE\nHAPPENED FOR A SLIGHTLY CHUBBY\nTHIRD\nGRADER?\nTHANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND\nESPECIALLY SAKA, FOSTER AND\nRINCK WHO REPRESENT ME IN WEST\nSEATTLE.\nTHANK YOU, JEFF.\nALL RIGHT, KATIE AND THEN\nLAUREN AND JENNIFER.\nKATIE?\nMY NAME IS KATIE: MY NAME IS KATIE.\nI'M A 15- YEAR RESIDENT OF WEST\nSEATTLE AND I'M ASKING TO\nYOU PLEASE SUPPORT ALL THE\nFUNDED\nAMENDMENTS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.\nIT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO\nME PERSONALLY BECAUSE THE\nLIBRARY\nHAS A HUGE, POSITIVE IMPACT\nON MY LIFE.\nAS A SINGLE PARENT OF\nA VORACIOUS READER I CAN FIND\nUNLIMITED BOOKS AND KNOWLEDGE TO\nMY 9-YEAR-OLD.\nI CALCULATED HOW MUCH I WOULD\nHAVE SPENT ON BOOKS IF I\nHADN'T BEEN ABLE TO CHECK THEM\nOUT\nAND I COULDN'T HAVE AFFORDED\nIT.\nWE ALSO VISIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD\nBRANCH FOR PROGRAMS.\nI JUST TOOK MY KID LAST WEEK\nTO THEIR FIRST TWEEN PROGRAM AND\nA LEGITIMATE TEENAGER, 13,\nWAS SAD THEY WERE TOO OLD TO\nATTEND.\nTHE LIBRARIAN SAID, OF COURSE\nYOU CAN.\nCOME ON IN.\nAND THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN\nTO.\nTHE LIBRARY IS A WELCOMING SPACE\nFOR EVERYONE AND WE NEED TO TO\nFULLY FUND IT.\nTHANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,\nFOR\nYOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR LIBRARY\nAND OUR CITY.\nTHANK YOU, KATIE.\nLAUREN, JENNIFER AND MASON.\nJENNIFER GO AHEAD --\nLAUREN: LAUREN.\nI'M LAUREN. AM I NEXT?\nOH, SORRY, LAUREN.\nAPOLOGIES.\nLAUREN, GO AHEAD.\nMY NAME IS LAUREN AND I LIVE: MY NAME IS LAUREN AND I LIVE\nIN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M A\nREGULAR USER OF THE WEST SEATTLE\nBRANCH.\nI'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE\nFRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.\nMY MOM GAVE ME A SPECIAL GIFT.\nIT'S A LIBRARY BOOK THAT I\nFORGOT TO RETURN AS A CHILD.\nWHILE I ENJOYED THIS RELIC OF\nITS TIME, I BROUGHT IT\nHERE TODAY AS A REMINDER THAT\nLIBRARIES NEED MORE FUNDING FOR\nCOLLECTIONS.\nLIBRARY BOOKS GO MISSING, THEY\nBREAK DOWN FROM USE, AND IN THE\nCASE OF E BOOKS AND AUDIO\nBOOKS, WHICH I USE CONSTANTLY,\nTHEY\nEXPIRE.\nAS A SEATTLE TAXPAYER\nAND HOMEOWNER I'M ASKING YOU\nTO PLEASE SUPPORT ALL THE\nAMENDMENTS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY\nESPECIALLY THE AMENDMENT\nFOR PROVIDING MORE FUNDING FOR\nCOLLECTIONS. THANK YOU TO ALL OF\nOUR\nCOUNCILMEMBERS TO THE LIBRARY\nAND OUR CITY.\nTHANK YOU, LAUREN.\nJENNIFER, MASON AND PAUL TYLER.\nHI, I'M JENNIFER AND I\nSERVE AS THE CURRENT BOARD\nPRESIDENT FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE\nSEATTLE\nPUBLIC LIBRARY AND I LIVE\nIN DISTRICT THREE.\nI URGE THE COUNCIL TO\nSUPPORT ALL FUNDED AMENDMENTS TO\nTHE LIBRARY LEVY SPECIFICALLY\nI'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR\nCOUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S\nAMENDMENTS TO EXPAND FUNDING FOR\nDIGITAL\nBOOKS. WHILE THE INITIAL LETCHY\nPROPOSAL IS A START IT DOES\nNOT DO ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE\nREALITY OF SKYROCKETING DEMAND\nAND THE\nFRUSTRATINGLY LONG WAIT\nTIMES FOR EBOOKS.\nCOUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S\nPROPOSAL BRIDGES THAT GAP\nENSURING\nOUR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS\nREMAINS ACCESSIBLE RATHER THAN\nJUST\nASPIRATIONAL.\nFURTHERMORE, INTRODUCING\nA DIGITAL VERSION OF PEAK PICKS\nWOULD BE A TRANSFORMATIVE\nUPGRADE TO ONE OF THE\nLIBRARY'S MOST BELOVED\nSERVICES.\nWHILE THESE AMENDMENTS REPRESENT\nRELATIVELY SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNTS,\nTHEY OFFER HIGH\nVISIBLE RETURN FOR THE PUBLIC.\nRESIDENTS IN EVERY\nNEIGHBORHOOD WILL NOTICE AND\nBENEFIT DAILY\nFROM THIS AMENDMENT.\nPLEASE VOTE YES TO ENSURE OUR\nLIBRARY SYSTEM KEEPS PACE\nWITH OUR COMMUNITY --\nHOW OUR\nCOMMUNITY ACTUALLY READS TODAY.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, JENNIFER.\nMASON, PAUL TYLER, ANGEL AND\nCOCORU.\nMASON, GO AHEAD.\nGOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.\nMY NAME IS MASON AND I'M A\nWEST SEATTLE RESIDENT IN\nDISTRICT\nONE. I'M IN FAVOR OF THE\nPROPOSED\nAMENDMENTS TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.\nAS ONE OF THE LAST GREAT\nTHIRD SPACES WE NEED TO INVEST\nIN LIBRARIES STRENGTHENING THEIR\nFOUNDATIONS BOTH PHYSICAL AND\nFISCAL WITHIN OUR\nCOMMUNITIES. SEISMIC RETROFITS\nLIKE THE ONE\nFOR THE WEST LIBRARY BRANCH BY\nCOUNCILMEMBER RINCK ARE\nCRITICAL TO ENSURING SAFE AND\nENDURING COMMUNITY SPACES.\nALL LIBRARIES, INCLUDING MY WEST\nBRANCH OFFER WEST SEATTLE A MENU\nOF RESOURCES THAT SERVE EVERY\nCOMMUNITY MEMBER FROM\nFAMILY READING TIME AND\nHOMEWORK HELP TO TAX AND\nENTREPRENEURIAL\nTO JUST BEING A FREE PLACE TO\nBE.\nOFTEN DESCRIBED LIBRARIES AS\nA MODERN MIRACLE THAT GIVES\nAND GIVES AND ASKS LITTLE IN\nRETURN.\nTHAT IMPORTANT WORK WILL BE\nABLE TO CONTINUE SAFELY AND\nASSUREDLY\nIF ALL COUNCILMEMBERS COMPLETE\nTHE PROJECT IDENTIFIED IN\nRINCK'S AMENDMENT.\nTHANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT\nTO THE LIBRARY AND\nOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR BEAUTIFUL\nCITY.\nTHANK YOU, MASON.\nPAUL TYLER, ANGEL SOLS AND\nCOCORU.\nGOSH, I'M SAYINGSAYING RIGHT, I\nHOPE. PAUL.\nCOUNCIL CHAIR AND: COUNCIL CHAIR AND\nCOUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS PAUL\nTYLER, FRIENDS OF SEATTLE\nPUBLIC LIBRARY AND I RESIDE IN\nQUEEN\nANNE, DISTRICT SEVEN.\nI REQUEST THAT THE\nAMENDMENTS BE INCLUDED IN THE\nLEVY.\nLIBRARY IS A FABRIC OF SEATTLE.\nOUR LIBRARIES REPRESENT\nTHE VALUE OF PUBLIC SPACES,\nSPACES THAT BIND US TOGETHER FOR\nA COMMON CAUSE AS ACTIVE\nCITIZENS IN A COMMUNITY.\nA LIBRARY PROVIDES SAFE --\nFREE AND SAFE SPACES TO GROW AND\nEXPLORE IDEAS. THE KEY ASPECT OF\nOUR DEMOCRACY.\nLIBRARIES HAVE THE ABILITY\nTO DEVELOP PASSION FOR READING\nAND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON\nLITERACY. THESE SPACES ALLOW FOR\nINQUIRY,\nEXPLORATION AND DEEP LEARNING.\nAS A RETIRED EDUCATOR\nI'VE ALWAYS VALUED AND\nPROMOTED LIFELONG LEARNING.\nPLEASE SUPPORT THE\nADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HAVE\nLIBRARY SYSTEMS\nREACH ITS FULL CAPACITY ASAS\nHUB OF THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY.\nIT PROVIDES CULTURAL EXCHANGES\nWHICH STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY\nTIES. IN CLOSING, I BELIEVE\nTHE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN\nPRESENTED IN A THOUGHTFUL AND\nFISCAL\nRESPONSE AND I THANK YOU\nFOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.\nIT'S MORE NEEDED TODAY\nTHAN EVER BEFORE AND I ASK THAT\nYOU\nSUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS.\nTHANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU, PAUL.\nANGEL, COCORU AND THEN WE'LL GO\nTO ONLINE. I SEE OUR ONLINE\nSPEAKERS ON.\nANGEL.\nHI.\nCOUNCILMEMBERS, GOOD TO SEE YOU\nAGAIN.\nI KNOW WE KEEP MEETING LIKE\nTHIS.\nTHANK YOU. MY NAME IS ANGEL\nSOLS, A\nPROUD MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF\nSEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.\nYOU'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW OF US\nHERE.\nWE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING\nTHE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES\nSINCE\n1941. OUR MISSION IS TO ELEVATE\nTHE LIBRARY AND INSPIRE THE LOVE\nOF READING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.\nI CARE ABOUT LIBRARIES BECAUSE\nTHEY ARE A PILLAR OF\nOUR COMMUNITY WHICH\nCREATES, CULTIVATES AND ENSURES\nEMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND\nPSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY, DISCOVERY\nAND WONDER.\nI AM IN FAVOR OF ALL OF\nTHE OPPOSED -- ALL OF THE\nPROPOSED\nAMENDMENTS.\nI DO WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT THE\nPROPOSED LEVY LARGELY MAINTAINS\nTHE STATUS -- HOLD ON -- GLASSES\nARE GOING TO BE NEEDED.\nI WAS GOING TO TRY TO NOT USE\nTHEM. HERE WE GO.\nTHE PROPOSED LEVY\nLARGELY MAINTAINS THE STATUS QUO\nAND IS\nINSUFFICIENT AND IT IS\nUNACCEPTABLE FOR PROGRESSIVE,\nWELL- READ, DIVERSE CITY OF\nSEATTLE.\nI WOULD LIKE ALSO TO SAY THAT\nBECAUSE THE 2019 LEVY WAS $219\nMILLION SOME NEWS\nOUTLETS DESCRIBED THE $410\nMILLION\nPROPOSAL\nAS AN INCREASE OF 50% AND THAT\nWAS INCORRECT.\nSO WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO IS\nPLEASE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER\nRINCK'S AMENDMENTS REGARDING\nBOOKS, PLEASE\nSUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,\nJUAREZ\nAMENDMENTS REGARDING PROGRAMS.\nPLEASE SUPPORT AMENDMENTS FOR --\nFROM COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,\nFOSTER, LIN AND STRAUSS.\nLAST BUT NOT LEAST DON'T LET AN\nINCLINATION TO FOCUS ON\nTHE FUTURE STEAL OUR PRESENT.\nTHANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR\nALL THAT YOU DO ESPECIALLY FOR\nOUR LIBRARIES AND OUR CITY.\nAND NOW I CAN SEE.\nTHANK YOU, ANGEL.\nCOCORU\nARONKU AND THEN WE'LL GO TO\nONLINE.\nHI.\nMY NAME IS COCORU ARONKU.\nGOOD EVENING ALL. I STAND HERE\nTODAY IN STRONG\nSUPPORT OF INCREASING THE\nLIBRARY LEVY ESPECIALLY IN A\nWORLD WHERE EVERYTHING IS BASED\nON WHAT IT PRODUCES FOR THE\nRICHEST PEOPLE, NOT FOR\nCOMMUNITY.\nTO ME, A LIBRARY IS NOT JUST\nA BUILDING FILLED WITH BOOKS,\nIT'S A PLACE WHERE\nEVERYBODY'S IMAGINATION IS\nDISCOVERED.\nIT IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS\nFIND RESOURCES.\nIT IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO\nARE LOOKING FOR JOBS GO TO\nGET SUPPORT, AND IT'S ALSO A\nPLACE WHERE COMMUNITIES COME\nTOGETHER FREELY TO TO\nSHARE, TO CONNECT ON EQUAL\nFOOTING.\nIT'S IN A CITY LIKE SEATTLE\nTHAT'S KNOWN FOR INNOVATION AND\nPROGRESS.\nWE MUST ENSURE THAT ACCESS\nTO\nKNOWLEDGE IS NOT A PRIVILEGE BUT\nA RIGHT.\nAN INCREASED LEVY MEANS LONGER\nHOURS, STRONGER PROGRAMS AND\nUPDATED RESOURCES AND A\nTRUE MEASURE OF THE CITY LIKE\nSEATTLE IS NOT JUST THE CITY\nLINE OR\nTHE SKYLINE OR THE BEAUTIFUL\nNATURE.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nIT'S HOW WELL WE SUPPORT\nOUR\nPEOPLE BY INVESTING IN OUR\nLIBRARIES.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nTHANK YOU VERY MUCH.\nALL RIGHT.\nWE'LL GO TO ONLINE SPEAKERS\nNOW, SO WE'LL GO TO THAT\nPERSON, DAVID HAYNES AND THEN\nBRITTANY AND AN LIFIA.\nDAVID HAYNES, ARE YOU HERE IN\nPERSON?\nHI, THANK YOU, DAVID HAYNES.\nTHAT'S ALL RIGHT.\nI'LL JUST GO FROM THE PHONE.\nI WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT\nTHERE'S LIKE $195\nMILLION INCREASE IN THE DEMANDS\nOF THE\nLEVY, AND SO THERE HAS TO BE\nA CAVEAT THAT AT LEAST ONE OR\nTWO DAYS A WEEK YOU HAVE TO\nPROVIDE A 21st CENTURY TIME OF\nBEING OPEN LIKE 9:00 A.M. TO\n9:00 P.M.\nAND IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TRULY\nENJOYABLE, YOU HAVE TO ALLOW\nFOR THE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO BE\nFULLY SUPPORTIVE TO DEAL WITH\nALL THE TROUBLED SOULS\nBOTHERING PEOPLE AT THE LIBRARY.\nIT'S BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO\nSIT DOWN FOR EVEN 20 MINUTES IN\nTHE\nCOMPUTER SECTION BECAUSE\nTHERE'S BEHAVIORAL CRISIS\nPEOPLE\nTHAT PASSIVE AGGRESSIVELY WANT\nTO\nBULLY AND BOTHER YOU.\nYOU TRY TO SIT DOWN TO READ THE\nNEWSPAPER, THEY ARE SO CLOSE\nYOU END UP HITTING AND THE\nPEOPLE CRINKLING THE STEEL\nPLATES.\nWE DON'T NEED ANY CHILD PORNO\nACCOMMODATION. GET THE\nKID AWAY FROM THE GROUND\nFLOOR.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nBRITTANY, ALIFIA, AND\nTHEN UNA MARTIN AND SARAH\nSTANLEY.\nBRITTANY. 29, YES.\nNO, NO WORRIES.\nBRITTANY.\nGREAT, WELCOME.\nHI.\nI'M BRITTANY AND I'M A RENTER\nIN\nBALLARD.\nI'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE\nSUPPORT ALL THE FUNDED\nAMENDMENTS TO\nTHE LIBRARY LEVY BECAUSE THEY\nARE\nESSENTIAL INVESTMENTS IN\nAFFORDABILITY. A VIBRANT LIBRARY\nSYSTEM IS THE\nFOUNDATION OF AN AFFORDABLE\nCITY.\nIT'S HOW WE GUARANTEE THAT\nBOOKS AND KNOWLEDGE BELONG TO\nEVERYONE.\nTHE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD WILL\nPAY NO MORE THAN $15 A MONTH FOR\nTHE\nLIBRARY LEVY EVEN IF THE FUNDED\nAMENDMENTS ARE INCLUDED, AS I\nVERY MUCH HOPE THEY ARE.\nTHAT $15 A MONTH PROVIDES\nSEATTLE FAMILIES ACCESS TO\nA COLLECTION OF OVER 3 MILLION\nITEMS.\n5,800 YEARLY PROGRAMS AND\nCLASSES AND FREE ACCESS\nTO MEETING\nROOMS, COMPUTERS AND WI-FI\nACROSS THE CITY.\nTHE PROPOSED FUNDED\nAMENDMENTS SUPPORT THE PUBLIC\nGOOD BY\nINCREASING SUPPORT FOR\nCOLLECTIONS, PROGRAMMING AND\nINFRASTRUCTURE.\nTHE LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE FEW\nSEATTLE WHERE A\nPERSON CAN SPEND THEIR TIME\nWITHOUT NEEDING TO SPEND ANY\nMONEY.\nWHAT'S MORE AFFORDABLE\nTHAN THAT?\nTHANK YOU, BRITTANY.\nALIFIA AND THEN\nUNA MARTIN AND THEN SARAH\nSTANLEY.\nWELCOME.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nHELLO.\nMY NAME IS ALIFIA.\nI LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL.\nI LOVE USING THE LIBRARY AND\nCHECKING OUT\nBOOKS. I'M PART OF A CLIMATE\nCRISIS GROUP THAT MEETS AT THE\nSEATTLE PUBLIC\nLIBRARIES. I'M ASKING YOU TO\nPLEASE SUPPORT\nALL THE FUNDED AMENDMENTS TO\nTHE LIBRARY LEVY.\nIT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO\nME TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF BOTH\nPHYSICAL AND DIGITAL BOOKS.\nTHEIR VALUE IS BRYCELESS AND\nLIBRARIES ARE MAGICAL SPACES\nTHAT WE ALL HAVE CORE MEMORIES\nAT.\nAS A SEATTLE TAXPAYER I WANT\nTO SEE MORE RESOURCES FOR\nTHE LIBRARY VIA THE LEVY BECAUSE\nNOW IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN\nEVER TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION\nIN EDUCATION OF OUR MINDS.\nTHANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,\nFOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE\nLIBRARY AND OUROUR CITY.\nPLEASE VOTE YES TO THE FUNDED\nAMENDMENTS.\nTHANK YOU: THANK YOU.\nUNA MARTIN, SARAH STANLEY AND\nMIA DAVISON.\nHELLO: HELLO.\nGOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.\nMY NAME IS UNA MARTIN AND\nI'M COMING FROM CAPITOL HILL.\nI'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT\nTHE LEVY AND I AM ESPECIALLY\nIN FAVOR OF COUNCILMEMBER\nFOSTER AND JUAREZ AMENDMENTS\nTO INCREASE FUNDING FOR\nMULTILINGUAL SPEAKERS\nOF LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH.\nAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO GREW UP\nIN A SINGLE- PARENT IMMIGRANT\nHOUSEHOLD, THE LIBRARY\nWASN'T ONLY A SAFE THIRD SPACE\nFOR US\nBUT ALSO A VITAL RESOURCE\nOF SURVIVAL FOR MY FAMILY.\nMY MOTHER OFTEN USED THE\nLIBRARY AS A RESOURCE TO\nCONTINUE\nHER ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION,\nAND\nI BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT\nACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS LIKE THESE\nWE WILL BE DOING FAMILIES\nLIKELIKE AND MANY OTHERS A HUGE\nDISSERVICE. CONTINUING TO INVEST\nIN\nTHE LIBRARY IS PLANNING FOR THE\nFUTURE.\nSO PLEASE VOTE TO CONTINUE TO\nINVEST IN OUR FAMILIES\nAND COMMUNITIES WITH THESE\nAMENDMENTS.\nTHANK YOU SO MUCH.\nTHANK YOU SO MUCH: THANK YOU SO MUCH.\nSARAH\nSTANLEY AND THEN MIA DAVISON.\nHI. I'M SARAH STANLEY FROM\nCOUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S\nDISTRICT.\nI WANT TO SAY THANK YOU\nTO COUNCILMEMBERS JUAREZ,\nSTRAUSS,\nFOSTER, RINCK AND LIN\nFOR RECOGNIZING THAT THE\nLIBRARY NEEDS A LEVY THAT IS\nMORE ROBUST\nAND SUPPORTIVE TO COVER THE\nNEXT SEVEN YEARS.\nI AGREE 100% WITH YOUR\nAMENDMENTS. WHEN I TOLD MY UBER\nDRIVER,\nWHO IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED\nSTATES TEN YEARS AGO, THAT I\nWAS SPEAKING HERE TONIGHT, HE\nWAS\nSO EXCITED, HE ASKED IF I\nCOULD SPEAK FOR HIM.\nHE TOLD ME THAT THE\nLIBRARY MAKES LIVING IN SEATTLE\nMORE\nAFFORDABLE FOR HIM AND HIS\nCOMMUNITY.\nTHE FREE WI- FI, THE\nPREBOOKS, THE CHILDREN'S BOOKS\nFOR KIDS IN\nENGLISH AND HIS LANGUAGE AS\nWELL, THE JOB TRAINING\nHELP HE WAS ABLE TO GET, THE AIR\nCONDITIONING WHEN IT GOT TOO\nHOT, AND THE ENGLISH CLASSES.\nIN HIS WORDS, THE SEATTLE\nLIBRARY IS A MIRACLE.\nWE MUST GIVE IT THE MONEY IT\nNEEDS.\nSO LET'S PUT TOGETHER A ROBUST,\nWELL-FUNDED LEVY AND GIVEN IT\nTO THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE TO\nSUPPORT, AND WE KNOW THEY WANT\nTO PASS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT\nYOU DO.\nTHANK YOU, SARAH. MIA\nDAVISON.\nHELLO: HELLO.\nI'M MIA AND I'M REPRESENTING\nTHE DISTRICT AND ASKING YOU\nTO SUPPORT ALL FUNDED AMENDMENTS\nTO THE LIBRARY LEVY.\nI'M ON A QUEST TO FIND\nAND WALKABLE THIRD PLACES IN\nSEATTLE\nAND THESE ARE ONE OF THEM.\nAS YOU MAY KNOW THE\nDISTRICT BRANCH IS CLOSED FOR\nRENOVATIONS, AND I MISS ITS\nBOOKS, MAGAZINES,\nSUBSCRIPTIONS, SHOWS, MOVIES,\nTHE SERVICES THAT\nIT OFFERS TO THE PUBLIC EVEN AS\nIT EXPANDS INTO A TECHNICAL\nSPACES AS PUBLIC NEEDS CHANGE.\nAND ITS RESOURCES AND\nPUBLIC SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO USE\nAND CONGREGATE AS AFFORDABILITY\nIS\nAN INCREASING CONCERN.\nAND THANK YOU FOR YOUR\nSERVICE AND\nPLEASE VOTE YES FOR LIBRARY\nLEVY.\nTHANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIA. ALL\nRIGHT.\nIS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN CHAMBERS\nTHAT DIDN'T SIGN UP BUT\nWOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?\nALL RIGHT.\nWELL, COLLEAGUES, THAT WAS --\nMIA WAS OUR LAST\nREGISTERED SPEAKER PRESENT TO\nSPEAK AT\nTHIS PUBLIC HEARING.\nTHE PUBLIC HEARING ON\nCOUNCIL BILL 121181 IS NOW\nCLOSED.\nTHIS CONCLUDES THE APRIL\n2nd MEETING OF THE SELECT\nCOMMITTEE\nON THE LIBRARY LEVY.\nALL RIGHT.\nIF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS,\nTHIS MEETING WILL ADJOURN.\nAGAIN, EVERYONE, THANK YOU\nSO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN HERE TO\nTALK TO US AND TELL USUS -- GIVE\nUS YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE LIBRARY\nLEVY.\nIT IS CLEAR WE ALL VERY\nMUCH LOVE OUR LIBRARIESLIBRARIES\nIN\nSEATTLE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE\nYOU TAKING TIME ON THIS EVENING\nTO COME DOWN HERE.\nALL RIGHT.\nHEARING NO FURTHER\nBUSINESS,\nIT'S 6:30 P.M. AND THIS MEETING\nIS ADJOURNED."
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