 The recent announcement that Sound Transit’s East Link light rail expansion will be delayed by at least a year came as a blow, but what if we could still open an Eastside-only starter light rail line connecting Redmond to Bellevue, or even to Mercer Island, in 2023?
In short, we can and should.
Read my Seattle Times op-ed urging just that, and supporting improved oversight and finding ways to build light rail faster and cheaper:
Redmond Pride: First Year, We Are Here
 June isn’t the only time the LGBTQ+ community should feel pride and be supported, so don’t miss the very first Redmond Pride tomorrow at Redmond’s Downtown Park! The event will feature local LGBTQ+ artists, performers, and businesses, along with equity- and equality-focused organizations. Come enjoy the festivities and show the LGBTQ+ community that they are a welcome and valued part of the Eastside.
CDC and FDA approve new COVID boosters
 This Thursday, the CDC recommended that teenagers and adults get updated booster shots from Pfizer (ages 12 and older) or Moderna (for those 18 and older). The shots — also known as bivalent vaccines —are designed to target both the original coronavirus strain and the currently circulating omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. The CDC suggests that people wait at least two months since their most recent COVID shots to get the latest boosters. These updated shots are boosters and are not recommended if you have not had the original two doses of vaccine.
The Federal government has purchased 171 million doses and supplies should roll out in the coming weeks. King County Public Health expects to have the updated booster shots available at its Auburn Outlet Collection Mall vaccination site starting Friday, September 9, unless the vaccine shipment arrival changes. Check with your local pharmacy to see when doses are expected to arrive in your neighborhood. COVID vaccines and boosters remain free.
Read some helpful answers to your question about the new booster from STAT News:
Have your COVID home tests expired? Before you throw it out you should know that the FDA has extended the expiration dates for some brands of tests, including iHealth and FlowFlex. Learn more by watching this Public Health video explainer:
Renewing our appreciation for workers on Labor Day
During COVID we all developed a deeper sense of appreciation for essential workers who keep our community going—from grocery store workers to transit operators to doctors and nurses. On this Labor Day, I hope we will renew the appreciation we have for the workers who enable the rest of us to go about our daily lives conveniently and comfortably and, indeed, everyone in every job and industry.
As Dr. Martin Luther King said, all labor has dignity. Labor Day is a time to recognize the value all workers have and commit ourselves to honoring that value by holding employers in all industries, including government, to high standards, fair wages, and good working conditions. Especially with the labor shortage many sectors are facing, now is the time for workers, unions, and the community to come together and demand the respect and compensation that every worker deserves.
Read more about the history of Labor Day from the U.S. Department of Labor:
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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