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