 "True public safety requires a collaboration between law enforcement and the community."
-- Betsy Hodges --
 Our Safe Auburn: Community Conversations series continued this week with meetings at Lea Hill Elementary on Tuesday and Pioneer Elementary in South Auburn Thursday evening. Both were well attended and had actively engaged participants. I want to thank the over 100 hundred of you who took time out of your weekday to join us to talk community safety and solutions.
 Over 80 of you at Lea Hill came to talk about all of the issues you're seeing in your community, and one of the main topics of conversation centered around traffic -- speeding, loud cars, street racing, vehicle theft, and just generally unsafe driving.
Many more of you talked openly about theft, shootings, property crime, and the need for more from us. Whether that's more police, more collaboration for solutions, or simply more opportunities for youth and families to connect with their neighbors across the city.
Pioneer Elementary had strong turn out of over 40 community members, with folks ready to address increasing violence and the need for more civic engagement.
Community member concerns centered around accountability in keeping residents safe, and how its a community-focused effort involving police, the city council, residents, local businesses, schools and city government.
 Some also shared concerns around a decrease in community connection and a general lack of connection with neighbors. Stories were shared on how the community can often serve as a great line of defense and support in identifying what may be unusual or unsafe.
From these points of growth, great solutions were fostered! Ideas centered around developing more methods for neighborly connections (neighborhood parties and competitions), finding ways to make city information more accessible, and encouraging all community members to practice and participate, knowing their voice matters.
 We're gathering all of this feedback, compiling it, and publishing on our outreach platform SpeakUpAuburn.org.
As we work through all of the notes, we're also going to publish questions and answers, in addition to notes gathered during the break-out discussions.
We've got two sessions ahead of us this coming week for Districts 5 and 6, first at Mt. Baker Middle School Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and then Chinook Elementary School Thursday from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
I hope you can join us -- details are in the link below!
 District 5: Mt. Baker Middle School Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
 District 6: Chinook Elementary School Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, 5:30 - 8 p.m
 The City of Auburn is honored to be home to a significant Hindu American population. We are grateful for the significant contributions and accomplishments that the Hindu American community has made in the arts, education, sciences, government, sports, and economic development both across our state and in Auburn.
We encourage our community to recognize and celebrate the thriving culture and value that Hindu Americans bring to our city.
 In this latest episode of That's So Auburn! I'm joined by Police Commander Cristian Adams, who began his law enforcement career in Auburn in 2005 as a patrol officer. He now oversees Traffic, Records and our Community Response Team.
The world was much different when Cristian first applied to be an officer -- he was one of about 250 applicants. What I wouldn't do to have a fraction of that for our openings right now! Today, Auburn and many communities in Washington and South King County, struggle to fill vacant positions, but it's something we're working at fixing each and every day.
Cristian talks about his law enforcement career, current objectives with ongoing community safety meetings across Auburn, and how his team is making a difference in Auburn.
 This is the first That's So Auburn! episode to be video recorded as well, which means more access to watch and listen!
You can experience it on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
 On Tuesday we officially opened the new "A Street Loop," a short but mighty stretch of road that allows commuters easier access to A Street!
This project is a perfect example of infrastructure improving our everyday lives -- by connecting S Division Street and A Street SE, commuters have a new option for heading onto southbound A Street, avoiding the busy intersection of 3rd Street altogether. And hopefully, any traffic and stress that can come from rush-hour traffic. Trust me, nobody wants to sit through a full cycle of a traffic signal more than once.
 As our city grows, so too does our need for infrastructure to properly handle all the increased traffic. This project aims to do just that. This roadway was constructed with our downtown decorative standard street lighting, sidewalks, curb ramps, and concrete crosswalks
 Funding for the project includes $1.125 million in federal grants awarded through the Puget Sound Reginal Council (PSRC), $340,000 in Sound Transit traffic impact mitigation payment associated with the construction of the 2nd Sound Transit garage; $935,000 City Traffic Impact Fees. Total project cost is $2.4 million.
None of this would have been possible if not for the valued partnership with Reed Trucking and Excavating. As well as our funding partners: Sound Transit and the Puget Sound Regional Council with funds stewarded by WSDOT Highways and Local Programs.
 I also want to recognize how much this project improves public transit routes for KC Metro, MIT Transit, and Pierce Transit.
I hope you come see it for yourself!
John Frank Gustafson, long-time rink owner, skater, judge, coach, mentor, and friend to many passed away on August 7, 2024 at the age of 80 from Multi-System Atrophy, or MSA, a rare form of Parkinson's Disease, his family announced this week.
John's skating rink was a major part of my childhood -- everyone I knew went to Melody Skating Rink!
According to the announcement on Facebook, John leaves behind a skating legacy like no other. His skating career began at the age of 5 in Gresham, Oregon and then at the Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon, where he skated alongside his brothers, Ron and Rick. His parents, Cecil and Florence, were instrumental in the lives of their sons’ skating careers. In 1960, John was the first person to earn his Gold Medal in all four disciplines: Freestyle, Figures, Dance, and Speed, and later earned his Gold Medal in International Dance. Through his competitive career, John won and placed several times at Nationals in Figures, Freestyle, Speed, Freedance and Fours. He purchased a rink in Auburn, Washington in the early 1970’s, which he owned and operated for over 40 years. He taught both Artistic and Speed Skating, was a judge, a referee, meet director (locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally), and traveled with the world teams working for many years. He served on several USARS committees for decades and was on the USARS Board of Directors for 25 years. In 1993, John was inducted into the Roller Skating Coaches Hall of Fame, and in 1996 he was inducted into the Roller Skating Hall of Fame for Distinguished Service. Not only was he busy with skating but was an integral part of his community as well. For 30 years he was actively involved in the Auburn Kiwanis, Auburn Food Bank, and his church. John was dedicated, passionate, and gave of himself for the betterment of his community and the sport he loved so dearly. John passed away at home in Palm Springs, California, leaving behind his legacy of commitment, love, kindness, and perseverance.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 19 at the Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon.
 Mark your calendars next Saturday because the annual Halloween Harvest Festival and Les Gove Park Trunk or Treat is right around the corner!
 This fun-filled fall afternoon will include games, crafts, inflatables, rides, BOO-seum, food vendors, and a fun Trunk-or-Treat experience around the trail at Les Gove Park. Your little goblin will not want to miss this event!
Missed the event last year? Check out our rendition of "Auburn Mash."
Bring a can of food for admission to support the Auburn Food Bank.
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Saturday, Oct. 26
1 - 5 p.m.
Les Gove Park | 910 Ninth Street SE
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