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Equity in Port of Seattle COVID-19 Response
Principles and Potential Strategies
Port of Seattle
Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
4.22.2020
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Background and Purpose
The COVID-19 global pandemic is an unprecedented public health emergency that is causing
enormous economic and human costs and has significantly impacted the Port of Seattle. The
Port has been fully engaged in crisis response, as the pandemic has caused and is anticipated to
continue causing, extreme disruptions to Port operations and finance.
On April 1, 2020, the Port of Seattle Commission approved an immediate, short-term
emergency financial relief package focused on airport businesses, that provided rent deferral
and barred evictions of tenants due to inability to pay rent. Forthcoming measures will also
provide financial relief for tenants and partners in the Port’s maritime and real estate work. The
Commission also approved a set of principles to guide a longer-term economic recovery plan, to
be developed by the end of April 2020.
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The Commission motions included directives that equity should be integrated into the Port’s
COVID-19 response and economic recovery plan, stating:
The Port commits to values of equity, justice and inclusion in the COVID-19 crisis
response, from immediate response to longer-term recovery. In developing recovery
plans, the Port will ensure that principles of equity, justice, inclusion, transparency, and
accountability are embraced. The Port will engage communities who are most impacted
to understand their needs.
The Port shall consider its fiscal, legal and equity responsibilities in all decisions made
when applying these principles.
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These efforts shall also follow the Port’s principles of supporting regional economic
vitality, environmental stewardship, equity and inclusion.
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Guided by the Commission’s directives, the purpose of this document is to provide a set of core
principles and specific actions the Port can take to integrate equity into its COVID-19 response.
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Port of Seattle Motion 2020-06, “A Motion of the Port of Seattle Commission to provide guidance for Port
leadership in prioritizing Port investments to assist local, regional, and statewide economic recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic.” Port of Seattle Motion 2020-07, “A Motion of the Port of Seattle Commission to provide
immediate relief and support to Port employees and Port tenants and concessionaires.”
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Port of Seattle Motion 2020-06.
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Port of Seattle Motion 2020-07.
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Equity and Crisis Response
Communities of color and other marginalized communities tend to be more vulnerable
throughout all phases of a large scale public crisis or disaster, from preparedness to immediate
response to longer-term recovery. Inequities include:
• Pre-existing factors including environmental racism and economic inequality make
marginalized communities more vulnerable to crises in the first place.
• Marginalized people tend to be less prepared and underrepresented in crisis response,
and often face greater difficulties recovering.
• They face multiple barriers accessing resources and support, including access to
accurate information, and difficulties navigating complex systems of public.
• Needs of communities with more political power and voice are often prioritized over
those with less.
• Vulnerable families may be identified too late instead of planned for and
accommodated in advance.
• Service providers may not be representative of the communities most in need of
services, and/or are not culturally competent.
• Increased prices due to price gouging may make basic necessities inaccessible to people
who cannot afford to pay the increased price.
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Recognizing these inequities, crisis response should “…account for the needs of all people.
Emergency response and relief practices must benefit everyone while also accounting for the
specific needs of vulnerable populations.”
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The response “…cannot just band-aid the immediate damage…or put things back to the way
they were before…efforts must advance a long-term vision for our communities that puts
justice at the core.”
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Just as crisis response can “…deepen inequality, [it] also provides an opportunity to improve the
conditions that existed before the disaster occurred. This is a just recovery—one that accounts
for and addresses the underlying problems.”
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“In the Eye of the Storm: A People’s Guide to Transforming Crisis & Advancing Equity in the Disaster Continuum”,
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
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Ibid
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Ibid
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Ibid
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Core Principles
The Port’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI) has developed the following set of
core principles, intended to complement the Commission’s directives on COVID-19 response,
and to further elaborate on how equity can be integrated into the Port’s response.
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1. Integrate Values of Equity and Inclusion
This principle includes explicitly committing to values of equity, justice and inclusion
throughout the stages of crisis response, from immediate relief to longer-term recovery.
The Commission’s directives for COVID-19 establish a foundation for these values to be
implemented throughout the response and into long-term planning for future crises.
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2. Prioritize the Most Vulnerable
An equitable response should engage those who are more adversely impacted and prioritize
help to them. For the Port, vulnerable stakeholders are both internal (employees) and
external (small businesses/vendors/contractors, and vulnerable communities).
3. Mitigate Economic Loss
Small businesses are being drastically affected by the pandemic, as they experience major
loss of revenue, and risk loan defaults, evictions, laying off workers, and/or shutting down.
The Port has expressed a strong interest in supporting the economic viability of its business
partners. It can do so equitably by doing so with a priority on those owned by and/or with
workers from disproportionately impacted communities.
4. Ensure Language and Cultural Competence
Language and cultural competence barriers are exacerbated in a crisis. When vulnerable
communities cannot access timely and accurate information, they often are unable to voice
their needs, avail themselves of public assistance, or follow directives from public agencies.
The Port can address this for its stakeholders who experience these barriers.
5. Support Community-based Organizations
Trusted community-based organizations provide essential direct support to vulnerable
communities and can be important partners in crisis response. The Port already has
numerous community partnerships that can be leveraged to support equitable efforts.
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Adapted from “Recommendations for Philanthropy and Policy Makers”, National Coalition for Asian Pacific
Islander American Community Development (CAPACD) and “Principles for Equitable Crisis Response”, in
Movement Generation’s “Principles for A Just Recovery”
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Strategies for an Equitable Response
Given the scope of its operations, the Port has a significant impact on vulnerable individuals and communities among its stakeholder
groups that include small business owners, employees and Port-impacted communities. In its response to the pandemic, the Port
has an opportunity and responsibility to ensure equitable impact for those most vulnerable.
The following section includes specific measures in the Port Commission’s directives and describes how each can be implemented
equitably. The recommendations are grouped into two sections that align with the Commissions’s directives: 1. Immediate relief
(Motion 2020-07), and 2. Longer-term recovery (Motion 2020-06).
Immediate Relief: Motion 2020-07
Provisions in Port Commission Directive
Strategies for Equitable Implementation
Port Tenants and Concessionaires – deferred rent and no
evictions
“…authorizes the Executive Director to implement immediate
financial relief to Port tenants and concessionaires.”
“…tenants and residents at Port of Seattle facilities shall not be
evicted for inability to pay rent through June 30, 2020.”
Two-month deferral of rent and fees for six groups of airport
operators: airlines, airport dining and retail, rental cars, remote
parking, ground transportation, and non-aeronautical properties.
Evaluate for possible extension of two-month deferrals.
• Prioritize tenants who are disproportionately impacted
economically and/or have disproportionately greater
challenges, such as operators of color, first-time business
operators or those with less business experience/capacity,
those with less English proficiency, and/or those with less
ability to navigate and secure other sources of financial
assistance.
• Focus especially on workers in airport dining and retail, and
ground transportation.
• Consider targeted strategies for the most vulnerable, such as
longer deferrals or eviction bans.
Port Employees – workplace support policies
• Prioritize employees who are most economically vulnerable,
occupy the lowest tiers of pay, and/or have disproportionately
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“…review and enact workplace policies that enhance the ability of
employees to care for themselves and their families while
continuing to provide the work essential to Port operations.
Priority shall be given to maintaining employment and benefits to
the greatest extent possible.”
greater home/family challenges such as childcare, care for
elderly family members.
• Consider targeted strategies for the most vulnerable, such as
more support and/or for longer duration.
Port Employees, Tenants, and Employees of Tenants -
assistance finding relief from other sources
“The Port will develop an outreach program for its tenants, their
employees, and port employees, to facilitate their ability to access
local, state and federal relief resources.”
• Prioritize tenants who are disproportionately impacted
economically and/or have disproportionately greater
challenges, such as operators of color, first-time business
operators or those with less business experience/capacity,
those with less English proficiency, and/or those with less
ability to navigate and secure other sources of financial
assistance.
• Prioritize employees who are most economically vulnerable,
occupy the lowest tiers of pay, and/or have disproportionately
greater home/family challenges such as childcare, care for
elderly family members.
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• Provide help throughout the process of applying for assistance,
including understanding eligibility, navigating processes,
collecting documentation and completing applications.
• Ensure Port communication and services are linguistically and
culturally competent, including use of plain English and
avoiding technical terminology and jargon.
• For translation and interpretation, provide relevant context and
subject matter information to language professionals so they
can translate and interpret accurately.
• Employ multiple communication methods to reach diverse
communities, including engaging trusted community leaders,
community-based organizations and/or ethnic media.
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• When using technology for communication, consider who has
access and who doesn’t, and address barriers for those who
lack access to technology.
Longer-term Recovery: Motion 2020-07
Strategies for Equitable Implementation
• Prioritize tenants who are disproportionately impacted
economically and/or have disproportionately greater
challenges, such as operators of color, first-time
business operators or those with less business
experience/capacity, those with less English
proficiency, and/or those with less ability to navigate
and secure other sources of financial assistance.
• Consider targeted strategies for the most vulnerable,
such as more flexibility in adjustment of terms,
targeted adjustments, and/or longer duration of special
terms.
• Identify potential inequities in telework and leave
policies and address.
• If/when jobs need to be furloughed or eliminated,
consider equity in decision making of who is impacted.
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• If/when new jobs or assignments are identified,
consider equity in decision making of who is selected.
• In identifying needs for new skill-building and
educational resources for new career pathways,
prioritize employees who are most economically
vulnerable, occupy the lowest tiers of pay, and/or have
disproportionately greater home/family challenges
such as childcare, care for elderly family members.
• If/when criteria for economic impact and equity impact
are applied, weight equity impact at least equal to
economic impact.
• Within the prioritization of small businesses and
WMBEs, consider prioritizing those who are
disproportionately impacted economically and/or have
disproportionately greater challenges, such as first-time
business operators or those with less business
experience/capacity, those with less English
proficiency, and/or those with less ability to navigate
and secure other sources of financial assistance.
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• When identifying “partnerships to maximize funding
impact”, look at not only those focused on economic
development, but also those that create equitable
impacts, such as funding collaborations like the COVID-
19 Response Fund led by the Seattle Foundation or
other local relief funds.
• Continue work to integrate equity into existing
community benefit programs such as the South King
County Fund.
• Fund and enlist community organizations the Port has
partnered with to engage in crisis response support,
with a priority to those that are in and serve
communities of color.
• Use the COVID-19 experience to build policy and
operational mechanisms for future crisis responses,
including templates for policy directives, tools for
equitable rapid-response, and tools for monitoring
effectiveness of response and equity impacts.
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