12/13/22, 8:51 AM                                              Mail - Commission-Public-Records - Outlook
[EXTERNAL] PUBLIC COMMENT for December 13, 2021
Patrick McKee 
Tue 12/13/2022 8:46 AM
To: Commission-Public-Records 
WARNING: External email. Links or a achments may be unsafe.
Good afternoon, Commissioners -
Pleased to learn the Port of Seattle was represented at COP 27 last month. Surprised though, 
to see a Commissioner tweeting from Egypt that the Port already has a green cruise corridor in 
the North Pacific. Feels a little premature: not only does no such thing exist, there’s not even 
agreement with our purported cruise line partners on what such a thing is intended to be - only 
that it’s a can we’re kicking way down the road to 2050.
First of all, the Port’s website notwithstanding, cruise lines are not our partners. They’re 
basically tenants, right? We’re involved in a series of business transactions with them, all nonessential
, meaningful only for the 5000 jobs and 900 million dollars we’re told they generate. 
We don’t need partners who pay workers as little as $2 an hour, who dump billions of gallons of 
sewage into neighboring waters, who are recognized around the world as climate heating 
polluters and corporate criminals. Cruise companies have shown they’re going to do whatever 
they’re allowed to get away with. Ideally, this is where you all step in.
Because the Port’s actual partners are the citizens of King County and Washington. Our 
families live and work here; we elect commissioners, based on our estimation of their ability to 
serve our common interests. 
I want to urge the Port to start representing these actual partners. What could we do in 2023 to 
begin curbing the deadly impacts of this non-essential industry while preserving those 5000 
jobs? We could stop digging the hole deeper, for a start - address the so called insatiable 
appetite for cruise by capping Seattle sailings at 2019 levels. Impose cruise ship speed limits to 
increase fuel efficiency. Demand an expansion of sewage no-discharge zones. Restore on 
board monitors. Initiate a clear eyed public acknowledgement and assessment of the real 
effects and inequities of cruise, at home and in the global south. And then, we can get to work 
envisioning alternatives to cruise, and designing policies to encourage those.
Commissioners, there’s a lot to do; you know the stakes, and the urgency of action. Your 
partners are depending on you.
Thank you. Happy holidays. Let's get started in 2023!
Patrick McKee
9233 SE 59th St.
Mercer Island, WA 98040
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/commission-public-records@portseattle.org/inbox/id/AAQkAGE1YmYzYTk0LWE2N2YtNGZmYi05YjgxLTE5MDVjO…   1/2

       12/13/22, 8:51 AM                                              Mail - Commission-Public-Records - Outlook
323.336.3651




















https://outlook.office365.com/mail/commission-public-records@portseattle.org/inbox/id/AAQkAGE1YmYzYTk0LWE2N2YtNGZmYi05YjgxLTE5MDVjO…   2/2

       12/13/22, 8:59 AM                                              Mail - Commission-Public-Records - Outlook
[EXTERNAL] PUBLIC COMMENT for December 13, 2022
Brian and Tracy Thompson 
Tue 12/13/2022 8:57 AM
To: Commission-Public-Records 
WARNING: External email. Links or a achments may be unsafe.

Please find written public comment attached.
I would also like to call-in via telephone to the meeting to provide verbal comment on the same topic,
asking the Commission to order the Executive Director to rescind Executive Policy 29 and Policy HR-34,
in hopes that the Commission would take-up the issue during New Business. Please let me know what
number to call.
Sincerely,
Brian













https://outlook.office365.com/mail/commission-public-records@portseattle.org/inbox/id/AAQkAGE1YmYzYTk0LWE2N2YtNGZmYi05YjgxLTE5MDVjO…   1/1

                                                                                  Port of Seattle Commission Meeting 
December 13, 2022 – Public Comment 
Date:   December 13, 2022 
To:     Port of Seattle Commission 
From:  Brian Thompson 
RE:     Public Comment – Eliminate COVID Vaccine Requirements 

BACKGROUND 
During his January 25, 2022 Executive Director’s Report, Mr. Metruck announced that in response to
Port employees testing positive for COVID-19, including those “working the front line” (e.g. public
spaces), teleworking, and those on paid time off, that he would require Contractors and Consultants
working in “most non-public Port facilities” be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This directive is now
known as Executive Policy 29. 
Incidentally, those Port employees, including those teleworking and on paid time off, would have
already themselves been vaccinated against COVID-19 according to Mr. Metruck’s adoption of Policy
HR-34, which this Commission endorsed in November 9, 2021 with Order 2021-11. 

COMMISSION 
I appreciate that no similar order was issued by this Commission to endorse Executive Policy 29. A policy
which, even if effective, would have no apparent benefit to Port employees “working the front line,”
teleworking, or on paid time off. It is especially unfortunate, after the apparent failure of Policy HR-34 to
protect Port employees, that Executive Policy 29 was implemented. 
It is unfortunate because we see, with Agenda Item 11.b today, the Port’s expressed interest to be a
model for equity, diversity, and inclusion, including Objective 13 to increase utilization of WMBE and
DBE firms, and eliminate disparity of access to opportunities; Executive Policy 29 obstructs this goal. 

DISPARITY 
Executive Policy 29 is a barrier to WMBE and DBE firms and creates disparity in access to opportunities.
This is because larger firms may have sufficient staff who satisfy the terms of Executive Policy 29 in
order to serve as contractors, subcontractors, consultants, or subconsultants to the Port. Further, for
many reasons, some of which are chronicled in Medical Racism: A New Apartheid by Robert F. Kennedy,
Jr., including the Tuskegee Study and Dr. Marion Sims, Executive Policy 29 creates a barrier to
contracting of WMBE and DBE firms unwilling or unable to submit to vaccination. 

REQUEST 
For the wellbeing of Port employees, contractors, and consultants, and to remove the barrier to WMBE
and DBE involvement in Port contracts, this Commission should immediately order the Executive
Director to end policies which require COVID-19 vaccination. This should include Executive Policy 29 and
Policy HR-34. 

Thompson – Pg. 1

                                                                                  Port of Seattle Commission Meeting 
December 13, 2022 – Public Comment 
THE TIDE IS TURNING 
Three weeks ago a California appellate court affirmed the striking down of San Diego School District’s
COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Then two weeks ago, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld an
injunction that protects around 10,000 unvaccinated active-duty, reserve, and National Guard service
members in U.S. Air Force and Space Force from adverse treatment while they await exemptions from
the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. 
Further, just last week we saw congress pass the $858 billion National Defense Authorization Act which
includes a requirement for the Pentagon to end its COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Representative
Adam Smith of our ninth Congressional District, in which Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located,
stated on the House floor that it is the right time to end the vaccine requirement. 

CDC DATA 
Policy HR-34 and Executive Policy 29 were intended to contribute to the health of Port employees.
However, information provided by the CDC does not support this approach. 
Of the 10.1 million COVID-19 vaccine recipients who opted into the CDC’s V-Safe App, 3.35 million
individuals, over 33%, reported that after receiving the vaccine they were unable to perform normal
activities, missed work or school, and/or required medical care. Based on this CDC data, it is apparent
that receiving the COVID-19 injection can have serious consequences. 
As seen yesterday on the CDC website, “Breakthrough infections will occur even when vaccination rates
are high.” And, “People who get vaccine breakthrough infections can spread COVID-19 to other people.”
Therefore, even 100% vaccination status in a population will not prevent spread of the virus. 
From CDC data downloaded this morning for 2022-Quarter 3, of those who tested positive for COVID
about 57% were vaccinated. However, over 61% of the COVID deaths that same quarter were among
vaccinated individuals. As the percent of deaths is higher than the percent of cases among vaccinated
individuals, this indicates that a vaccinated person who tests positive for COVID is more likely to die than
an unvaccinated person. 

CONCLUSION 
Policy HR-34 and Executive Policy 29 involve COVID-19 vaccine mandates, implemented with the intent
to protect Port employees, should be rescinded to support the wellbeing of Port employees, contractors
and consultants. Considering (i) the disparity the mandate presents to WMBE and DBE involvement in
Port contracts, contrary to Port goals, (ii) recent actions across the country to strike down vaccine
mandates, including Representative Smith’s speaking in support of ending the DoD vaccine mandate, 
and (iii) in light of CDC data which contradicts perceived benefits of maintaining the mandate, the
Commission should immediately order the Executive Director to cease these vaccine mandates. 


Thompson – Pg. 2






12/13/22, 8:11 AM                                              Mail - Commission-Public-Records - Outlook
[EXTERNAL] Public comment for today's meeting
Jordan Van Voast 
Tue 12/13/2022 7:20 AM
To: Commission-Public-Records 
WARNING: External email. Links or a achments may be unsafe.

Dear Commission-Public-Records,
I plan to join you today in person at noon. Attached please find a copy of my written comments to the
Commissioners.
thank you,
wishing you peace
--
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE -- This email is intended only for the person(s) named in the message header. Unless otherwise indicated, it contains
information that is confidential, privileged and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this message in error, please notify
the sender of the error and delete the message. Thank you.
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
***
CommuniChi Acupuncture website
CommuniChi Facebook
CommuniChi You Tube
***
Dharma Friendship Foundation (DFF) Website
Facebook DFF
***




https://outlook.office365.com/mail/commission-public-records@portseattle.org/inbox/id/AAQkAGE1YmYzYTk0LWE2N2YtNGZmYi05YjgxLTE5MDVjO…   1/1

           Good afternoon Commissioners and Port staff, my name is Jordan Van Voast. As a member of
Seattle Cruise Control, I am here once again to express my deep concern that given the fossil
fuel dependent cruise industry’s harmful impacts to air and marine environments, worker
exploitation and the accelerating climate emergency, the Port of Seattle is failing in its mandate
to promote the public good. We urge you to immediately begin phasing out partnerships with
the cruise industry rather than continuing to expand it. 
The economic benefit from cruise revenue at the Port is not worth the many harms1 it creates.
Cruising is a non-essential human activity. The Green Corridor is not a satisfactory response to
greenhouse gas emissions and it does not ameliorate the multiple other harms of cruise. COP27
makes clear that the Paris target of 1.5 degrees may no longer be achievable2, but still we
must act. Every fraction of a degree we limit global temperature rise means a huge reduction
in suffering. 
****** 
It is widely acknowledged that most voters in King County don’t pay much attention to the Port
Commission, despite the Commissions’ power to influence policy in the region. Last month, 70%
of King County voters approved Charter Amendment 1,3 shifting several County elections to
even years when voter turnout almost doubles on average. On odd election years, when Port
elections are held, voter turnout averages around 47%.4 How can you uphold the public good
when you don’t have a majority of eligible voters participating in elections? In the context of
current national political debates about voter disenfranchisement, isn’t this situation worth
your immediate attention? 
Please visit our website at seattlecruisecontrol.org, think about the issues we’ve raised for the
past three years and ask yourself, “What is in the best interests of the public?”
What will the children of the future say about us if we continue to focus narrowly on
partnerships with the machines of capitalism that will always put profits before people? We are
all connected. All of our actions Thank you. 

1 https://seattlecruisecontrol.org/green-corridor-is-a-greenwash/ 

2 https://insideclimatenews.org/news/18112022/is-cop27-the-end-of-hopes-for-limiting-global-warming-to-
1-5-degrees-celsius/ 
3 https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2022/nov-general/results.pdf 

4 https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2022/11/king-county-council-chair-applauds.html