On Monday, Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County (BLMSKC) demanded in a formal letter to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission (SEEC) that an investigation be opened into 10 potential incidents involving members of Seattle City Council since June.
The letter asks the oversight agency to look into issues involving potential pressure exerted on City employees and members of the public at the time of recent protests, whether the Council was informed about safety issues around those protests, and how Council was influenced in recent budget and policing proposals.
In their letter to Wayne Barnett, Director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, BLMSKC asks that the SEEC “to immediately, transparently, and aggressively investigate the below named public officials and their actions, insofar as any public official’s conduct may have violated ethical requirements enforced by the EEC.”
In a release, BLM stated, “the requested investigation is essential for the public’s understanding of ongoing allegations of actual or perceived misconduct relating to specific acts by elected officials regarding police brutality, excessive force, and local defund efforts. That improved understanding will translate to more informed advocacy, community engagement and understanding of the public policy process for all residents, particularly the most disenfranchised.”
In addition, sources have confirmed that BLMSKC has made records requests for text messages, emails, DM’s and social media accounts for Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan, Office of Police Accountability Director Andrew Myerberg, Seattle City Councilmember Andrew Lewis, Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss, Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Councilmember Lorena Gonzales, and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan to further gain an “understanding of ongoing allegations of government misconduct relating to specific incidents of police brutality against protesters.”
“These are incidents that, if true, are alarming and require accountability,” said Ebony Miranda, Chair of Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County. “SEEC’s role is separating fact from rumor and holding elected officials accountable when boundaries are crossed.”
While making no allegations, the letter asks for investigation into issues including:
• Whether and how Councilmembers questioned Black and other people of color City employees about recent protests and Seattle Police Department (SPD) response;
• Whether Councilmembers called residents they believed to be organizers of Black Lives Matter, how they identified them, and whether they were transparent in conversations;
• Whether Councilmembers followed appropriate policies in opening City Hall to protesters;
• Whether Councilmembers were informed about out-of-state actors coming to Seattle to engage protesters, and if so, how they acted or did not on that information;
• Whether Councilmembers were aware of hazards to public safety at SPD’s East Precinct, and if so, how they acted or did not act on that information;
• Whether City Council excised due diligence on budget proposals that appear discriminatory or unduly influenced;
• Whether City Council examined impacts on the mission of moving the Office of Police Accountability outside SPD, and properly informed the public of their intent and potential influences in proposing the move.
“Seattle has an opportunity to lead by creating policies and committing resources to undoing decades of institutional racism,” said BLMSKC board member Livio De La Cruz. “This investigation is essential for the community’s understanding of government conduct—and it adds much needed transparency to the critical budget process that’s underway. The government works for the people. The people must understand what it’s doing and why.”
