Public comment at the council meeting included extended testimony on two recurring topics: the city's "Pay Up" gig worker law (referenced by commenters as CB 12775) and a proposed reinstatement of less‑lethal crowd‑control weapons (referenced as Council Bill 12519).

A speaker opposed to the Pay Up law said the policy had reduced delivery work and contributed to financial instability for workers who relied on flexible delivery income, urging council members to reconsider revisions under CB 12775. The commenter described delivery income as a short‑term safety net for workers between jobs and said the ordinance had harmed workers, small businesses and the delivery market.

Several medical and public‑health professionals spoke against reinstating less‑lethal weapons. Amy Hagopian, a professor of public health at the University of Washington, described research her team compiled documenting injuries linked to police use of crowd‑control weapons during 2020 protests and said allowing police to use the same kinds of weapons would not serve public health. She pointed audience members to a website and materials she said she emailed to council members.

Georgia Sleeth (identified in testimony as a physician and researcher on injury prevention) cited a study that found serious injuries — including head and eye trauma — among patients who presented to emergency departments during protest‑related incidents. She told the council she was “strongly encouraging a vote against Council Bill 12519 that would reinstate police use of less lethal weapons.”

Other commenters raised related concerns about police crowd‑control tactics, public safety, and the broader effects of enforcement on marginalized communities. Several public commenters also urged the council to advance housing and economic development measures and to consider labor and apprenticeship opportunities tied to development proposals.

Ending: These remarks were part of the public comment period; the council did not take a vote on CB 12519 or CB 12775 during this session. Speakers asked the council to consider public‑health evidence, worker impacts and equity in upcoming committee hearings and votes.