 In July, King County announced the purchase of the Silver Cloud Inn in Redmond to provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic or long-term homelessness. It is part of the Health through Housing initiative, which is a regional strategy to house people experiencing homelessness and funded by a sales tax the King County Council passed last year.
I have heard from constituents about this project, some in support, and others with concerns. Several people have expressed a desire to talk more about it. There also seems to be some misunderstandings circulating about what the goals of the Health through Housing initiative, who it will serve, how the Redmond Silver Cloud Inn was selected and how the program will work on the site.
In order to make sure we are sharing good information and engaging directly with our neighbors, I have scheduled a District 6 virtual town hall on Thursday, September 2, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. King County’s Director of Community and Human Services Leo Flor, who is responsible for implementing the Health through Housing program, including the Redmond site, will be in attendance to describe the program and help answer questions.
Although we will dedicate the bulk of the meeting to questions from the audience, and you are encouraged to bring yours then, please also feel free to share any thoughts or questions in advance so that we can be sure to focus on the issues of interest.
Sound Transit realignment complete: now the real hard work begins
 Photo: Sound Transit
Following this summer’s extreme weather, I’m more convinced than ever we need to continue to build a climate friendly transit system as soon as possible. Sound Transit’s light rail and bus rapid transit system form the cornerstone of this work.
Unfortunately, that vision has been threatened due unexpected cost increases announced by the agency earlier this year and COVID-19’s impacts in 2020. While Sound Transit EastLink (opening in 2023) and the Downtown Redmond Link Extension (opening in 2024) are proceeding on schedule, I-405 and SR 522 bus rapid transit and the remainder of the ST3 program were put at risk for delay due to a proposed “realignment” of projects to keep the program affordable.
As your Sound Transit Boardmember, I fought hard to develop a plan that requires us to roll up our sleeves and find ways to address costs, look for new funds such as Federal grants, and push to deliver the transit service that voters approved in 2016 as soon as possible. The compromise agreement approved unanimously on August 5, which I sponsored along with Sound Transit Board Chair and University Place Councilmember Kent Keel, establishes a flexible and accountable framework to deliver the remaining $50-plus billion Sound Transit mass transit program as close as possible to the dates promised to the voters, or faster, and only accept delay when all other options have been exhausted.
Now, the real hard work begins. It will not be easy, but it is essential for our region’s future that we complete the three-county regional transit system that will connect our economic centers and build a more sustainable transportation future in the face of the climate crisis. This work will require leadership from our Board and agency executives, from the cities and towns that serve transit riders, and from the stakeholders and individuals who call our region home. I’m heartened that already this approved approach is paying dividends as Sound Transit just announced that refinancing a set of federal loans will provide $500 million in cost savings.
Back to school and COVID-19
 As District 6 families and students prepare for in-person instruction beginning on Wednesday, September 1, there’s a lot to do to get ready for a successful school year. The start of school will prove even more challenging with COVID-19 cases rising due to the more transmissible Delta variant.
Public Health – Seattle & King County has prepared a helpful guide on how to get ready for in-person learning and to reduce the risk from Delta to the greatest extent possible at school, at home and in the community. Bottom line: use a combination of strategies consistently and in a “layered” approach – If eligible, get vaccinated (everyone 12 and over), wear a mask, stay as distanced as possible, and try to improve ventilation where possible.
Spread the word!
Please forward this email widely and invite others to sign-up to my email updates to receive important and timely information for District 6 constituents.
Sincerely,
 Claudia Balducci
King County Council
District 6
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