This morning, we woke up to the news that the United State Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade. I should not have been, but I was deeply shocked that the Court has decided that my rights and the rights of women across the country are not worth protecting. I’m angry and scared for the health and well-being of American women. Abortion is healthcare and women will suffer and die because of this decision.
A majority of voters in our nation support abortion rights. They understand that the choice to have an abortion is a profoundly personal decision for a woman to make in consultation with her healthcare provider. The idea that government can deny a person the right to make a personal medical decision and, indeed, punish them for it, is something I would expect from an authoritarian regime, not a country dedicated to freedom.
As a representative of the people of King County, I stand with my colleagues and my constituents to condemn this assault on women’s freedom and autonomy, as we do when any other country in the world denies women their human rights. I am committed, personally and professionally, to making abortion care widely accessible in King County and Washington state, including to anyone who needs to travel from their own home state to exercise their reproductive rights safely, legally, and with dignity.
Walking and learning in Seattle’s Chinatown International District
Many people from around the county have reached out to me in recent months to share their thoughts on the plan for a second light rail tunnel and station through the Chinatown International District (CID) in Seattle. The CID is in the middle of what is arguably Sound Transit’s most complex light rail expansion in its almost thirty-year history – the 12-mile line that will connect the West Seattle and Ballard neighborhoods. The decisions Sound Transit makes today will have implications for generations.
To better understand the options under consideration in the current environmental review process and their potential impacts to this historic neighborhood, I have read email and comment letters and met with community members with strong ties to the CID. On Wednesday, I co-hosted a walking tour with members of the Moriguchi family, who own the Uwajimaya grocery store. We walked through the neighborhood and talked with residents and small business owners who provided insights into the concerns neighbors have raised and a sense of the opportunities light rail offers.
 The CID is a neighborhood that has been heavily impacted and harmed by previous transportation and development projects and I am sensitive to the community’s desire that we not repeat those mistakes. The CID is a unique and important place with deep cultural and historic significance that extends regionally, particularly to many constituents who live in King County Council District 6.
This issue is coming before the Sound Transit Board’s System Expansion Committee, which I chair, in the coming months, before moving to the full Sound Transit Board. Our mission currently is to narrow the options for study in the final environmental impact study, with a decision on an alignment happening sometime in 2023 after we get the results of further study.
Learn more:
Protecting young kids against COVID
 Good news: babies and kids 6 months to 5 years are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine! This is a welcome development for parents, caregivers, and loved ones who have been worried about their small children getting COVID and another step towards our community safely emerging from the pandemic.
Not as good news: shipments from the federal government of COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 5 years are delayed, which will affect availability of vaccine appointments. However, appointments should become more available in the next couple of weeks. Check King County's website for updates and to schedule appointments.
The COVID vaccine has been determined to be safe for kids 6 months to 5 and is the best way to protect them from getting COVID, experiencing long-term symptoms, or being hospitalized. If you have questions or concerns about the vaccine for kids, you can find more information here or talk to your child’s doctor.
Regional Veterans Court Turns 10
This week, King County District Court celebrated the 10th anniversary of Regional Veterans Court, a program designed to help military veterans involved in the justice system who may be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other service-related disabilities. The mission of the Regional Veterans Court is to:
- Address the underlying issues that have resulted in the veteran being referred to the criminal justice system;
- Provide a courtroom environment that is supportive and respectful of the veteran and the victim (if any), and conducive to reaching a successful outcome in every case; and
- Strive to increase public safety through a collaborative, team-based approach that includes the veteran and incorporates individualized treatment plans, close monitoring, and creative approaches to resolve difficult issues.
Our veterans have sacrificed to serve our country and supporting them when they are attempting to improve their lives is one way we can honor them. Congratulations to the Regional Veterans Court team and all the people who have successfully completed the program in the last decade!
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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