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