Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! 

This month recognizes the unique cultures of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and their contributions to our communities.

May is Jewish American Heritage Month! We honor the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans who have endured and helped shape our nation.

It's Bike Everywhere Month! 🚴‍♀️ This month, you'll find exciting events all over the region, including our annual Bike Rodeo and Bike Ride of the Month—all to encourage everyone to hop on their bikes and explore. Whether commuting to work, running errands, or taking a leisurely ride, every pedal stroke counts.

Last week, Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and LIUNA Local Union 242 hosted the 2025 PNW Education & Workforce Summit and Career Fair at the accesso ShoWare Center.

I welcomed educators, labor representatives and employers to the summit. The panel, including several students, talked about the importance of workforce development and making sure our students know of available opportunities.

The Career Fair connected local students with apprenticeship programs, local employers and inspiration! Thank you, Billy Hetherington for all the work you put in to make this such an awesome experience for our kids. Great day all around!

Saturday, the Kent Chamber of Commerce hosted the National Civics Bee - South Sound and invited me to be one of the judges.

"Students who participate in the National Civics Bee gain knowledge about American democracy, practice engaging respectfully and constructively, and build trust in others and institutions. As they compete for prizes, students strengthen their civics, writing, and public speaking skills, and form friendships with other young leaders along the way."

All of the students were exceptional. Their essays were thoughtful and related to topics impacting their lives - school funding models, flooding, access to after-school programs and homelessness.

Congratulations to all the students that competed and congratulations to the top three who are moving on the statewide competition.

Sunday, I joined Pastor Roman Melnik and the congregation of Bread of Life Church for the grand opening service in their new building.

It was wonderful getting to celebrate their new space and see their continued commitment to serving our community.

Congratulations to Stacy and the team at Wilder + Free Beauty Company on their grand reopening

Thanks for the invitation to celebrate with you! The salon looks amazing!

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of joining People Come First Construction Group to celebrate the grand opening of their brand-new design center in Kent.

I’m always grateful for the opportunity to recognize and support businesses that are investing in our community and creating jobs.

Congratulations to the entire team at People Come First Construction Group and thank you for choosing Kent as your home!

King County has been selected as one of five regions in the U.S. for Comcast RISE Grants. This means 100 small businesses in King County will receive over $3 million in grants for monetary, marketing, and technology support. Applications are open from May 1-31 at ComcastRISE.com, with winners announced in August.

Last week, two of our Economic and Community Development Planners, Kristen Holdsworth and Lindsay Walker, received a 2025 Planning Award for their contribution to update Kent’s Community-Based Behavioral Health Facilities Code.

The award recognizes the City’s efforts to link planning and public health to implement the Growth Management Act.

They also attended the annual Planning Association of Washington Conference to present lessons learned from their work on the behavioral health code update.

Starting Monday, May 5, the Linda Heights Park will be closed for construction on the Sewer Pump Station located at the park.

The pump station will be relocated closer to the roadway for maintenance access and updated to current standards.

While the City's Public Works team completes the project, the park will also be regraded, and a new pedestrian walkway will be added.

For more information, visit KentWA.gov/Projects

Meet Chief Padilla and officers on May 7 at the Harp Bar and Restaurant for another Hops and Cops event! 

This is an opportunity to ask questions, meet the Kent Police Department staff that handles your concerns, and connect with law enforcement that serves our community.

📅 Wednesday, May 7
⌚ 4 p.m.- 6 p.m.
📍 The Harp Bar and Restaurant (24415 Russell Rd)

Cookie Hooky is the sweetest way to shake up your workday, and is hosted at accesso ShoWare Center May 8th from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

This fun-filled fundraiser is all about raising money for the Community Events Fund which will support local non-profits by providing the opportunity for kids and families to enjoy events in the greater Kent area.

Our annual Bike Rodeo event is a fun, interactive, non-competitive skills course designed for kids to improve their bike handling and traffic safety skills. 

Kids will learn about stop signs, crosswalks, approaching corners as well as being considerate around other bikers and pedestrians. 

The program will include helmet fittings, helmet giveaways, a bicycle skills course and bike safety checks. 

If you would like to volunteer, please email KentBikeRodeo@gmail.com.

📅Saturday May 17 
⏰10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 
📍Kent YMCA 

Construction has officially started on Ezee Fiber’s high-speed fiber network here in Kent!

As work continues in neighborhoods across the city, Ezee Fiber has launched an online hub to help residents stay informed. You’ll find answers to frequently asked questions, construction updates, and information about available services at ezeefiber.com/kent.

We are kicking off Paw-Fest weekend, where Kent City Hall becomes Kent Kitty Hall!

It's where all the cuddliest, cutest adoptable kittens and cats will be available for adoption thanks to Regional Animal Services of King County.

This is a purr-fect time, to find your furever friend! No kitten around!

📅 Thursday, June 5
⌚ 1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
📍 Kent City Hall 

The Kent Police Department is accepting applications for this year's Teen Police Academy on June 24–26.

This hands-on experience is open to current Kent sophomores, juniors, seniors, and 2025 graduates who want to explore careers in law enforcement or learn more about the specialty units that serve our community.

Participants will dive into topics like K9, SWAT, detectives, narcotics, building searches, and mock scenarios.

📅 Apply by May 29
📧 Questions? Contact Stacy Judd at sjudd@kentwa.gov or 253-856-5883.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to see what it’s like behind the badge!

Call before you dig!

Anytime you need to excavate for a home project, state law requires you to notify utility companies to avoid dangerous or costly damages.

Notify utilities of your intent to dig by calling 811 or by making an online request a few days before you plan to break ground. call811.com

DigSafeWA.org is your online resources for digging safely in Washington.

Want to guarantee you’re represented in future regional transportation plans?

Check your mailbox from now until June for an invitation to complete the Puget Sound Regional Travel Study.

Invited households will receive a gift card for participating! To learn more, visit: survey.psrc.org

We're hiring! Check out our featured jobs and find great opportunities on our hiring page at jobs.kentwa.gov

We're updating our ADA Transition Plan for facilities in the public right-of-way and we want to hear from you! Share your thoughts at Engage.KentWA.gov/ADA

Our goal is to improve accessibility around the city to enable all people to get around safely and easily.

Our Bicycle Advisory Board is accepting applications for new members.

Members advise the council, mayor and staff on projects, policies and programs that affect cycling conditions in Kent!

Applications are now being accepted for the city's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Board!

The goal of the board is to increase engagement, integration, and access to city services for all cultural communities in Kent.

You can learn about the city's work in these areas and the Equity Strategic Plan at KentWA.gov/Race-Equity and apply to be on the board here!

Get your furry friends licensed with Regional Animal Services of King County to help get them back to you if they're ever lost! 

Your license also helps fund RASKC's life-saving animal shelter work. They reunite lost pets 24/7 and provide shelter pet care 365 days a year.

The KentWorks app lets you access information and improve your neighborhood and community by reporting non-emergency issues to the city. You can request a service, report a problem and find information about the City of Kent all from your mobile device in just a few taps!