From:            Patrick Bannon
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] Public comment for April 26 - Bellevue Downtown Association
Date:              Tuesday, April 26, 2022 4:05:54 PM

WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
Good Afternoon Commissioners and Executive Director Metruck,

I'm reaching out on behalf of the Bellevue Downtown Association to share our gratitude and strong
support for the opening of the cruise season. I was signed in for today's public comment but
unfortunately had to leave the Teams meeting before my name was called.

I also want to commend the Port's ongoing work to connect and engage constituents in East King
County. Thanks to the hard work of the Commission and staff, our membership is well informed
about your work and the Port-related issues that will shape our future economy. On sustainability,
we appreciate the Port's commitment to work with cruise partners to make Seattle the cleanest and
most energy efficient port in North America.

We are excited to see cruise travelers come to the Eastside, stay at Bellevue hotels, and enjoy our
dining, shopping and recreation amenities. The return of the cruise industry will have a direct,
positive impact on our local economy and jobs. While we can't see the cruise ships from our
waterfront like our Downtown Seattle neighbors, we share in experiencing the benefits and
welcome the increase in visits. 

Thank you again for your leadership to safely restart cruise season.

-Patrick

Patrick Bannon | President | Bellevue Downtown Association
patrick@bellevuedowntown.com | m: 206.992.4534 | o: 425.453.3113





From:            Iris Antman
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           Re: [EXTERNAL] PUBLIC COMMENT for April 26, 2022
Date:              Monday, April 25, 2022 9:00:16 PM
Dear Commission,
Here is my testimony:
As a member of Seattle Cruise Control, I appreciate that Commissioner Cho 
acknowledged our opposition to cruise and the environmental degradation it 
creates. I understand that the cruise ship owners are the ones getting rich and I 
believe, clearly putting profit over people.
However, the Port as a special purpose government entity, has a special 
responsibility. For the last 20 years one of the Port's goals has been to expand 
cruise. In light of the climate crisis and impending environmental disaster this 
needs to change. By continuing to support, bolster and expand cruising, the Port 
is not mitigating the environmental impacts of cruise, as Comm. Cho suggests, 
but rather exacerbating them. To suggest that shore power and scrubbers and 
banning dumping of any waste in Puget Sound are making a significant enough 
difference to offset increasing GHG emissions, water and air pollution, and 
damage to the oceans and marine life, is not accurate.
These mitigation efforts, though helpful, account for a fraction of the GHG 
emissions and other pollution that cruise ships cause to the air, water, and 
climate.
It is a good thing to support the Career Launch program and the development of 
the workforce but the Port needs to find other sources of revenue rather than 
using this as justification to continue and expand the cruising industry.
Thank you,
Iris Antman
206-384-9123
On Mon, Apr 25, 2022 at 3:58 PM Commission-Public-Records  wrote:
Hi Iris,
Did you mean to attach a document for written comment?
Not seeing it in the email.
Thanks,
Commission Public Records



-----Original Message-----
From: Iris Antman 
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2022 7:25 PM
To: Commission-Public-Records 
Subject: [EXTERNAL] PUBLIC COMMENT for April 26, 2022
WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.

Hi folks,
I'd like to submit written testimony for the meeting on April 26. Unfortunately, I have
another appt. at the time of the meeting and so can't attend.
My testimony relates to the harms of the cruise industry.
Thank you.
Iris Antman
206-384-9123



From:            Robin Briggs
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] public comment April 26
Date:              Monday, April 25, 2022 5:39:49 PM

WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
I appreciated Commissioner Cho's comments on cruise ships at the recent Port 
Commission meeting. It is helpful to better understand what the Commissioners are 
thinking. I was one of the commenters Commissioner Cho was addressing, so I thought I 
would take the opportunity to respond.
It is true that the money that cruise brings to Seattle is helpful to many local people. It is 
also true that the Port is making some steps to mitigate the harmful impacts of cruise. 
However, it seems that the Port is largely helpless to do meaningful mitigation. Shore 
power will make the pollution impact while the ships are docked less, but as one 
commenter noted, this is 1.25% of their total emissions. Even if every other Port on the 
coast does the same, most of the emissions will remain.
That leaves us in the position of, as Commissioner Cho said in the meeting, taking their 
money, because if we don't take it, some other community will. That may be true, but it is 
also the same reasoning used to justify many bad actions. Twenty years from now, will Port 
Commissioners still feel good about the decisions the Port is making today?
Cruise is not interested in cleaning up its act. The climate crisis will continue to get worse, 
and the number of unhappy residents showing up at Port Commission meetings and voting 
on climate as an issue in Port elections will grow also. The larger a role cruise plays in the 
Seattle economy, the more painful this inevitable clash will be.
Robin Briggs



From:            Elizabeth Burton
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] written public comment for 4/26/2022 meeting
Date:              Monday, April 25, 2022 9:59:02 PM

WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
Hello, I am submitting the following as written public comment for the 4/26/22 Commission
meeting.
Dear Commissioners and Port Staff,
Seattle Cruise Control appreciated hearing Commissioner Cho's perspective on cruise, 
which he expressed during the last Commission meeting; we also appreciate the benefits of 
expanding workforce training for the next generation.
However, we are concerned that Commissioner Cho's conviction that the Port is 
successfully mitigating the environmental harms of cruise is profoundly ill-informed. The 
following is a partial list of serious environmental harms for which the Port's mitigation is 
currently wholly ineffective.

Greenhouse gas emissions: Shore power eliminates a trivial amount of the 
greenhouse gasses emitted by Seattle's cruise ships; currently, less than one-half of 
one percent. Once shore power is available and fully utilized at all of Seattle's cruise 
berths, this might rise to one and one-quarter percent.

Air pollution: scrubbers reduce sulfur emissions, but result in billions of gallons of 
warm, acidic, toxic wastewater being dumped into the ocean.

Water pollution: the Port restricts dumping in Puget Sound, but as soon as the ships 
cross the Canadian border, they dump close to 4 billion gallons of scrubber waste, 
sewage, bilge water, and greywater directly into Canadian waters each year.

Interference with whales' echolocation due to underwater noise; ship strikes of 
whales: not mitigated

Anti-fouling contamination of marine ecosystems: not mitigated
There are also non-environmental harms that the Port does not mitigate, including 
exploitative, unhealthy, and dangerous working conditions for crew, a high rate of onboard 
sexual assaults, and continued spread of Covid-19.








This is only a partial list. Academic researchers from around the world have compiled a 
comprehensive summary of cruise tourism's harms to the environment and to human 
health, based on over 150 peer-reviewed articles; we urge all Commissioners and Port staff 
working on cruise to familiarize themselves with this: Environmental and human health 
impacts of cruise tourism: A review, by Lloret et al.
In light of these numerous, significant, and hard-to-mitigate harms, we would like to see the 
Port use the upcoming Cruise Study Session as an opportunity to take a realistic look at the 
trade-offs the Port is making by continuing to promote and expand cruise.
Cruise lines are able to make huge profits because they burn the cheapest and dirtiest 
fossil fuel, and because they fly flags of convenience, allowing them to exploit and 
underpay their workers, and avoid paying U.S. taxes. The Port's workforce development 
program is currently the direct beneficiary of these practices, which violate the Port's 
Century Agenda values of environmental stewardship and equity.
We hope this information is helpful, and we hope thatinstead of continuing and furthering 
your dependence on cruise, you will devote substantial resources into developing different, 
more sustainable, just, and equitable revenue sources, to benefit our youth, our region, and 
our world.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Burton, PhD
on behalf of Seattle Cruise Control
References:
Shore power currently eliminates less than one-half of one percent of Seattle's cruise GHG 
emissions: calculations posted on Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Seattle Cruise Control 
website.
Four billion gallons of water pollution in Canadian waters and description of scrubber 
wastewater: from Regulating the West Coast Cruise Industry: Canada at the Low Water 
Mark, by Stand.earth and West Coast Environmental Law, p. 8. A reported 31 billion litres 
dumped during the entire Alaska cruise season is equivalent to 8.2 million gallons. Seattle 
hosts a little less than half of Alaskan cruises, hence responsible for approximately 4 million 
gallons.
Underwater noise, ship strikes, anti-fouling contamination, exploitative working conditions, 
sexual assaults: from Lloret et al.
Continued spread of Covid-19: some recent articles:
From maritime attorney Jim Walker's blog, cruiselawnews.com:




















Jan. 4, 2022: Vision of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas: Royal 
Caribbean's "Plague Ships"

Jan. 9, 2022: MSC Meraviglia Arrives Back in Port Canaveral With 169 
Crew Members and Sixty Guests Infected with COVID-19

Jan. 10, 2022: Royal Caribbean Adds Jewel of the Seas to its Fleet of 
"Plague Ships"

Jan. 11, 2022: Royal Caribbean Adds Fourth Cruise Ship, Serenade of the 
Seas, to its Fleet of Floating Quarantine / Medical Facilities

Jan. 14, 2022: Majority of Royal Caribbean Crew Stuck on "Plague Ships" 
are Symptomatic

Feb. 11, 2022: Over 30% of Crew Members on Silversea's Silver Cloud 
Test Positive for COVID-19
Reports from the Miami Herald:
Jan. 6, 2022: Third Royal Caribbean cruise ship hit with COVID-19 
outbreak

Jan. 6, 2022: Norwegian Pearl returns early to Miami as crew members test 
positive for COVID-19

Jan. 25, 2022: What can occur when COVID-19 turns cruise vacations into 
nightmarish voyages?
Cruise Ships Turned Away due to Covid
Dec. 23, 2021, The Maritime Executive: Caribbean Ports Turning Away











Cruise Ships Over Omicron Fears

Jan. 7, 2022, Caribbean National Weekly: Cruise Ships Turned Away from 
Grenada Over COVID-19 Concerns

Feb. 3, 2022: Cute video: Cruising with Don: Multiple Ships Turned Away 
From Port
More recent reports:
Mar. 28, 2022, L.A. Times: Guests and crew members test positive for 
COVID-19 aboard Princess Cruise ship
March 31, 2022, Wall Street Journal: Cruise Lines Won't Catch a Wave, 
"Roughly two-thirds of cruise ships sailing in U.S. waters right now have 
reported Covid-19 cases on board, according to the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention."

April 4, 2022, Cruiselawnews: "Lots of Covid-19" on Recent Princess 
Cruise Sailings




From:            Erin Meyer
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Cc:                Hurley, Kathleen
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] Letter of Support: 4/26, Port Commission Meeting, Item 10c
Date:              Friday, April 22, 2022 4:36:21 PM
Attachments:      Urban Kelp Project_Letter of support_Seattle Aquarium.pdf

WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
Greetings,

Attached you'll find a letter of support from the Seattle Aquarium for item 10c on the Port
Commission Meeting agenda for April 26, 2022. If you have any questions or trouble accessing the
file, please let me know.

Thank you,
Erin

Erin Meyer, Ph.D.
Director of Conservation Programs & Partnerships
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Seattle Aquarium
t: (206) 693-6099
1483 Alaskan Way | Pier 59 |Seattle, WA 98101-2015
SeattleAquarium.org

Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment

1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59 
Seattle, Washington 98101-2015 
(206) 386-4300 
SeattleAquarium.org 
April 22, 2022 

Re, Authorization for the Executive Director to Execute an Agreement with the
Seattle Aquarium for a Project Investigating Urban Kelp Forests in the Amount Notto-Exceed
$120,000; and that the Commission Exercises its Authority Under RCW
53.19.020(5) to Determine a Competitive Solicitation Process is Not Appropriate or
Cost Effective for this Action. 

Dear Commissioners Calkins, Cho, Felleman, Hasegawa, and Mohamed: 
Thank you for the opportunity to highlight the emerging new partnership between the
Port of Seattle and the Seattle Aquarium to advance understanding of the health and
trends of urban kelp forests. The partnership is punctuated by our shared commitment
to kelp forest conservation and restoration and our shared interests in revitalizing and
activating the Seattle Waterfront. It presents a unique opportunity  to put the Seattle
Aquarium's expertise in kelp forest ecosystems, underwater survey techniques, and
technology to work to advance urban kelp forest restoration. Together with our expertise
in public engagement, this is a truly exciting opportunity to advance science, awareness,
and actions in support of urban kelp forest ecosystems that would not be possible with
other partners. Furthermore, the work will generate new knowledge and enhance 
understanding of where kelp is found along this urban environment and why, which will
inform the Port of Seattle's ongoing nearshore habitat restoration efforts. And all of these
efforts and knowledge, combined with the Aquarium's work elsewhere in the state, will
help us better understand coastal and kelp forests resilience. 
The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the
world's one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drive the change
needed to conserve our marine environment through a compelling exhibit experience;
conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds; community
outreach  to  marginalized  populations;   conservation   research  that  advances
understanding and informs decision making; ocean policy and advocacy initiatives at the
local, state and federal levels; local and global species conservation projects; and more. In
addition to applying our research expertise, there will be ample opportunity to engage
our audiences  throughout  the  project, highlighting  the  importance of kelp forest
ecosystems, their presence along the waterfront, and how individuals can take action to
support a healthy ocean.

The Aquarium owns a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV: a Blue Robotics BlueROV2,
equipped with x4 1500 lumen lights and x3 image-stabilized GoPro cameras to collect
benthic imagery; and a Ping Sonar Altimeter and a WaterLinked acoustic GPS system 
that provide precise ROV tracking information. One of the Aquarium's ROV pilots will use
the ROV to do broad surveys of kelp forests and benthic ecosystems in and around Elliott
Bay and Smith Cove. Video will be processed at the Aquarium's video post-processing
and mapping station, equipped with 4K monitors and the processing power required to
train machine learning algorithms. These analyses will generate metrics of percent-cover
(including habitat type) along with abundances of individually conspicuous species. Once
generated, these metrics will also be mapped onto existing habitat layers, enabling
further analyses. Aquarium personnel have experience training machine learning
algorithms and performing spatial and other statistical analyses, as well as conducting
subtidal field operations including operating small vessels and conducting surveys via
scientific SCUBA diving and ROV.
The opportunity presented with this unique partnership between the Port of Seattle and
the Seattle Aquarium is incredibleputting the Aquarium's experience, expertise, 
resources, and engagement platform to work to support kelp forest conservation and
restoration along Seattle's waterfront. We look forward to advancing this critical urban
kelp forest project in partnership with the Port of Seattle. 
Sincerely, 

Dr. Erin Meyer 
Director of Conservation Programs and Partnerships 
Seattle Aquarium 
(206) 609-6099 
e.meyer@seattleaquarium.org




From:            Mary L Stephenson
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           Re: [EXTERNAL] Alaskan public comment for 12th & 26th commission meeting
Date:              Tuesday, April 12, 2022 7:20:35 PM
Good evening... I also wish to speak at the 26th meeting.
Please advise me of the link to sign in, time, etc. and know that calling from
Alaska, I am one hour behind Seattle.
Q&A - this meeting they will also have a copy of my letter from this morning? As I
want to refer to it but not read it. My 2+ minutes will on similar topic. 
I will be calling from (907) 254-2121
Thank you.
Mary L Stephenson

On 4/12/2022 7:20 AM, Commission-Public-Records wrote:
Thank you Mary Stephenson,

We are in receipt of your written comments for the 4/12 Meeting. These will be
distributed to commissioners and attached to the approved minutes.
Did you also want these written comments distributed for theApril 26th meeting?

Best Regards,

Commission Public Records

From: Mary L Stephenson 
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 5:02 AM
To: Commission-Public-Records
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Alaskan public comment for 12th & 26th commission meeting

WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
To Whom It May Concern....
Good morning...meeting today's deadline (0800 hours) please accept
my comments for Port of Seattle Commission meeting today. Please


REPLY that it was accepted...thank you.
Mary L Stephenson
Ketchikan Alaska 99901
(907) 254-2121
email: mlstephenson2017@gmail.com





In 2019, busiest day was Thursday when 7 ships delivered over 14,000 passengers plus crew occupying
three city docks and one privately owned dock who leases back to City of Ketchikan. In 2020, Port at
Ward Cove (8 miles north) built the longest pier ever in USA. When Norwegian Cruise Lines hosts their 
world class ships Bliss and Encore on the same day, add another 9,000 souls plus transportation to the
April 11, 2022            mix. Less than 40 miles, the State of Alaska Tongass Hwy 7 traverses through land jurisdiction of local, 
state, federal, native and Alaska Mental Health Land Trust. Cruise ships originate in Seattle, Vancouver 
B.C. and/or Victoria B.C. Regulations begin with you; let NOAA Ocean Rangers enforce them here.  MLS 
April 11, 2022 
Port of Seattle Commission 
Subject: Impact of cruise industry on smaller seaports in Southeast Alaska 
On behalf of this small seaport, I would like to thank Port of Seattle Commission reaching out to Alaskans
and asking what, if any, impact the cruise industry has on Ketchikan; a population just under 8,300 yeararound
residents that explode another 4,000 seasonal workers in spring. Topics from A to Z  plenty! 
Tourism has been my career for over 33 years based out of San Francisco extending into 15 western
states, Canada and Mexico meet-greet dockside and airport along with conducting tours while driving 
a tour bus. Historically, Ketchikan's industries have been depleting timber, mining and seafood just like
tourism is putting a strain on our Number One asset  air, land, and sea wildlife; residents quality of life,
sustainability of environment and burden on its infrastructure. The population of taxpayers is maxed
out as CLAA and CLIA cruise CEOs mantra has been 'what is mine is mine and what's yours is mine'; 
refusing municipalities authority to impose passengers' an impact fee to pay for infrastructure (we
believeif they used it ~ they can pay for it). If we partner with water-side or upland projects cruise
brands expect preferential long term agreements that lessen our ownership to city-owned docks. 
When port commissioners of Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria decide what is best for their community's
sustainability, enforcing regulations constraining air, land and sea pollution and set limits on passenger
capacity on ships especially 'The Mall of America' flotilla world class ships  their efforts protect, benefit 
and minimizes bullying tactics here in Alaska's southeast seaports. We do not have the regulatory clout
or financial resources to combat these issues and they take advantage of that. It starts with debarkation.
Not in compliance? Then ships do not promote Alaska! To protect a whale it requires protecting
the ocean's habitat. Collectively we have advocacy groups ready to join our bigger brothers and sisters! 
Thank you. Mary L. Stephenson 
Recent review and report are worthy a mention. 
1) Marine Pollution Bulletin Review: Environmental and human health impacts of cruise tourism: A review 
by Joseph Loret, Arnau Carreno, Hrvoje Caric, Joan San, Lora E. Fleming Bulletin: 173 (2021) 112979 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X21010134 
2) Missing The Boat: Comparative Economic Impacts of Cruise & Non-Cruise Tourism in Greater Victoria, B.C. 
https://www.stand.earth/sites/stand/files/victoria_report.stand.earthfinal06042022.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0RLtj_NK9r3CmRN0F3
btpDNTAhd3tzi233Etn-qeo28s5S1CrK2nc8VrU Should Canada deny or begin to regulate ships while in port, data within will
aide Southeast Alaska seaports prepare for consequences. 
Mary L. Stephenson Ketchikan Alaska 99901 (907) 254-2121 mlstephenson2017@gmail.com






From:            Jordan Van Voast
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] written testimony for today"s meeting
Date:              Tuesday, April 26, 2022 6:12:57 AM

WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
Dear Commission-Public-Records,
Here is a copy of my testimony for today. See you at 11:30 (ish)!
thank you
Good afternoon Commissioners, My name is Jordan Van Voast. I'm a member of Seattle 
Cruise Control, although my comments do not necessarily reflect a consensus of our group. 
In light of the climate emergency, please rethink Port business strategies which continue to 
emphasize high carbon emission activities  namely cruise ships - based on revenue goals 
without adequately factoring long term scientific outcomes. On Saturday, a climate activist 
self-immolated outside the Supreme Court. While I do not condone his tragic method of 
expression, I mention him because people and entire ecosystems are dying without any 
choice due to our continued reliance and investments in the carbon intensive economy.
Most people understand that mass transit services are a critically important means to 
reduce our region's dependence on single occupancy vehicles and their impact on climate, 
and yet as a recent story in the Urbanist points out, the Port's role as a founding member of 
Superyachts Northwest, stands in opposition to Sound Transit's most preferred option for 
the planned Ballard light rail station. Why? Because the Coast Guard, at the behest of the 
superyacht community, is demanding a 205 foot height clearance for any Ballard Bridge 
replacement in order to accommodate the toys of the ultra-rich. Apparently, the potential 
revenue from courting wealthy oligarchs via the superyacht industry is more important to 
the Port than incentivizing ridership in mass transit. The Port should immediately use its 
influence to work in collaboration with Sound Transit instead of catering to a very small 
handful of individuals whose carbon intensive lifestyles set a poor example for the changes 
our world needs now.
The Port of Seattle's mission is "to promote economic opportunities and quality of life () in 
an equitable, accountable and environmentally responsible manner. I appreciate the 
difficulty of your task in transitioning our region to a sustainable future and look forward to 
supporting the Commission in whatever way that I am able.
thank you,
Jordan Van Voast, L.Ac.









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Every single act of kindness makes all the difference in the world.
Jordan Van Voast, Licensed Acupuncturist
on Duwamish/coast Salish traditional land
CommuniChi Acupuncture Clinic
2109 31st Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98144
206.860.5009
***
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CommuniChi Facebook
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***
Dharma Friendship Foundation (DFF) Website
Facebook DFF
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https://seattlecruisecontrol.org/
Seattle Cruise Control Facebook
Seattle Cruise Control YouTube





From:            Lindsay Wolpa
To:                Commission-Public-Records; Hart, Michelle; Felleman, Fred
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] Support for Holocaust Remembrance Day Proclamation
Date:              Tuesday, April 26, 2022 12:32:02 PM

WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
Commissioners,
I had intended to try to deliver this message via public comment, but did not get my email in
before the 9am deadline so I don't have the Teams link.
Having been a part of the port community for the last eight years, it means so much to me as
a Jewish person to see this proclamation come forward. Having grown up in the northeast, my
Judaism never felt as common here in the PNW. So seeing this come forward within our
special purpose government means so much. I have always considered myself more a cultural
Jew as opposed to a religious one, perhaps because of everything I have learned in my lifetime
about the Holocaust. I am so lucky to practice my culture/religion as I wish, but know that is
not the case around the world.
I am grateful for Commissioner Felleman's leadership with this proclamation and am reminded
of our work together last summer around the ZIM San Diego incident -- that was such an
important effort to combat an unspoken level of antisemitism that should have never
occurred. It was work like this today as well as last summer that continues to make me so
proud to be a part of the port family.
Very best,
Lindsay Pasternak Wolpa
Port of Seattle employee 2014-2021, Northwest Seaport Alliance employee 2021-present