From:          Edwin Alberto Hernandez Reto
To:            Commission-Public-Records; Calkins, Ryan; felleman@comcast.net; Steinbrueck, Peter; Cho, Sam
Subject:         [EXTERNAL] Public Comment COVID Motion 2020- 06
Date:           Wednesday, April 1, 2020 2:38:34 PM
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Dear Port Commissioners,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide Public comment.
In these last two years, we have been working, as a Duwamish Valley Community, very closely with the
Port of Seattle and as a result we were able to concretize our work into the document called the
Duwamish Valley Community Commitment (CBC) which was approved last December under resolution
3767 of the Port of Seattle. This project has generated and raised great expectations in our Duwamish
Valley Community as it addresses three clear objectives that, historically, have been unfairly affected,
such as economic development, health and the environment, and a lack of connection between our
Community and the Port of Seattle.
We are currently working with the Port of Seattle to prepare the work plan for the next three years, but as
a Community we feel a lot of uncertainty about what the future of this Project will be as a consequence of
the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. .
My name is Edwin Hernndez and in my 47 years of life I only had to see social isolation crises as
consequences of wars or terrorism. This is my first life experience to see a global crisis caused by this
pandemic. This pandemic is affecting all countries without distinguishing their socio-economic situation,
that is, it is affecting developed countries, underdeveloped countries and poor countries. But the most
positive of all this problem is that the environment and nature are being favored. This is clearly a signal to
reflect and meditate as a society if we are doing things right.
My expectation is that the Port of Seattle continue betting on this project and this will be a way of showing
the World that in the most difficult moments and when there is an ingrained alliance between Company
and Community and that under the Win to Win philosophy we can overcome the crisis. obtaining common
benefits such as economic prosperity under the focus of environmental care and community health. What
we do well now will be the pillar for our future generations.
Thank you so much.
Edwin Hernndez