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This year, my team and I were able to accomplish major, transformational victories for you, our district, and the whole county. These are our Top 22 Accomplishments of 2022:
- Led the effort to build five Crisis Care Centers around King County, places where people can access life-saving care for mental illness and substance use disorders
- Co-sponsored the Free Youth Fare ordinance, allowing youth 18 and under to ride transit for free
- Championed and passed the Extreme Weather Adaptation legislation to ensure King County creates indoor options for people to escape extreme heat, cold, and wildfire smoke
- Organized with local food banks to pass the Food Bank Motion, which supports food banks and advances food security in our region
- Co-created an Equitable Development Initiative to ensure King County supports development while preventing displacement of communities
- Co-sponsored legislation to move King County elections to even years from odd years to dramatically increase voter turnout and engagement
- Led the Youth Achievement Center campaign to build a housing and jobs center for unhoused youth in South Seattle, which led to a $500,000 donation from the Seahawks
- Championed Skyway Affordable Housing by directing a $5 million investment to an affordable home ownership and an affordable rental development in the community
- Supported legislation proposing a year-round Gun Return Program for residents to safely surrender unwanted firearms or ammunition
- Secured $5 million for youth mental health services, prioritizing school-based services, mental health first aid, and suicide prevention for youth
- Advanced the Skyway Resource Center by investing $2 million to build a new home for the Center at the former US Bank location in Skyway
- Introduced the Missing Middle Housing Motion to lower barriers for construction of more multi-family housing which will increase housing supply
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Donated four County vans to local nonprofits to support food delivery, driving seniors and disabled neighbors, and other vital needs
- Organized community leaders, government agencies, and other stakeholders to promote Public Safety in Mt. Baker, Rainier Beach, Little Saigon, and the CD
- Passed a $16.4 billion biennial budget to fund critical services throughout King County, including major investments in housing, public health, public transit, and community safety
- Passed a proviso to bring King County Department of Parks and Natural Resources back into the business of establishing and managing community centers, and to house the future Skyway Community Center
- Supported the Skyway Park Renovation, a $3.9 million project that provided a new playground, new and enhanced sports fields, improved lighting, and better ADA accessibility for Skyway Park
- Helped create Participatory Budgeting for unincorporated King County, leading to the first ever community-voted funds awarded to projects such as Street Beautification in the Skyway Business District, Hewet Skyway Community Garden, “Welcome Home” down payment assistance, and more
- Trained hundreds of new leaders through Build the Bench, an initiative I started that prepares the next generation of progressive elected leaders
- Created the Community Safety Ambassadors Program to promote public safety at and around public transit stations so that everyone is and feels safe while riding Metro buses
- Launched a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program to allocate $1000 per month to extremely low income families for one year, and conducted GBI policy analysis in partnership with the University of Washington
- Established a $1 million residential road safety program in unincorporated King County to protect our pedestrians and other road users
In 2023, the King County Council will be working on major issues facing our region and I want to hear your priorities for economic recovery, public transit, public safety, housing and homelessness, behavioral health, climate change, and more.
Take my survey about your interests and priorities today at www.tinyurl.com/district2survey2023.
- Addressing the mental health and addiction crisis by building crisis care centers and mobile crisis response systems
- Providing more affordable homes and making real progress on ending our homelessness crisis
- Supporting our neighbors and small businesses recover from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Continuing to improve public safety with a neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach
- Combating and responding to climate change
- Providing neighborhoods like Skyway, South Seattle, and the Central District more services, development, and investment while preventing displacement
I sat down with Tony Ventrella on KCTV to talk about the proposal to give our neighbors somewhere to go when they’re experiencing behavioral health crises. The full interview can be found here.
Summary
Public Health - Seattle & King Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin joins other local health officers and health care leaders in recommending masking in indoor public spaces and other prevention measures given the high level of respiratory viruses circulating and stress on hospitals.
Story
Communities across our state and around the U.S. are experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19. As health officers and health care leaders working to improve the health of Washington residents, we recommend that everyone wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when around others in indoor spaces to protect against both acquiring and spreading these infections to others.
We also urge everyone who is eligible to stay up to date on your vaccinations. Vaccinations are the most important way to protect against severe influenza and COVID-19 infections, including hospitalization and death. Everyone 6 months and older should be vaccinated against these diseases and those who are eligible for an updated COVID-19 booster should get it now.
Other necessary strategies include:
- Staying home from work and school and testing for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms.
- Having a plan for rapid treatment for COVID-19 and influenza for people who are at increased risk for severe infections.
- Improving indoor air quality through ventilation, filtration, and UV technology where appropriate.
We expect the flu to circulate for months, so now is the time to get your flu shot!
The flu is most dangerous for:
- Children under 5 years (especially under 2).
- Adults 65 years or older.
- Those who are pregnant.
- Anyone living with a health condition like asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
Consult with your physician or healthcare provider about the need for testing or treatment if you are at increased risk for severe influenza or are unsure.
In addition to RSV and influenza, new COVID-19 variants are taking hold and immunity from past vaccination is waning for many people who have not yet received an updated booster shot. The surge in these viruses is resulting in many illnesses, contributing to rising absenteeism in schools this fall. This impact extends to businesses, workers, and families.
For people who develop symptoms, and for parents of young children, it’s important to know when to contact your physician or healthcare provider for advice or an evaluation.
Working together and using multiple, layered strategies to limit the spread and impact of these viruses will provide benefits to all of us during this fall and winter respiratory virus season and help relieve serious stress on our healthcare system.
Thank you to everyone for doing what you can to help.
King County Veterans Program (KCVP) is actively serving tens of thousands of veterans across King County. Currently, more than 115,000 veterans live in King County, one-fifth of veterans are in Washington state, and over 1,200 employees at King County are veterans.
On this year's Veterans Day, King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) reflected on the service and sacrifice of these service members and their families and all the ways veterans help shape the fabric of our communities.
KCVP achievements in supporting veterans in achieving their goals have been remarkable. From housing and health care to connection to financial assistance and employment opportunities, we are harnessing our power to offer services to veterans that make meaningful change. These are undeniable benefits for our veterans and a reminder to us all about how we can and should invest in our communities large and small.
KCVP is taking innovative approaches to meet the needs of veterans by:
- Piloting the Collaborate Case Management program in 2021 to further support veterans in finding housing. In the past 18 months, this program has moved over 100 homeless veterans and their families into housing, in partnership with King County Housing Authority and Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Creating housing stability for veterans on a fixed income, many of whom have disabilities and make less than 30% of Area Median Income.
- Offering low-barrier mental health counseling to veterans, servicemembers and their families. KCVP has provided almost 10,000 free counseling sessions since 2020.
- Contracting with nearly 50 community-based agencies serving veterans in our region.
- Providing wraparound services to more than 2,000 veterans each year since 2018, offering two service hubs with on-site partnerships to address legal issues, benefits assistance, housing stability, and veteran employment.
We will continue to celebrate the brave people who serve our country and strive to create equitable opportunities for them to be happy, healthy, and connected to the community.
Check out our 2022 Veterans Day video
Cold Weather Shelters
Due to cold weather, with low temperatures in the 30’s, KCRHA is activating Severe Weather Response protocols in Seattle. Extra overnight space open in Seattle, Burien, Renton, Auburn, plus a list of day centers and places to get warm when you don't have a home here.
King County Regional Homelessness Authority Database
Explore KCHRA’s new database to see all the local organizations working to solve homelessness here.
Washington Family Relief Fund Steering Committee Recruitment
The Washington State Legislature allocated $5.5 million to aid families at risk for child abuse/neglect who were negatively impacted by COVID-19. Scholar Fund will create an open application process to issue a one-time $250 cash grant per child to eligible families.
The Washington Family Relief Fund Statewide Steering Committee seeks to assist in guiding the priorities for the Fund’s distribution model of first come, first served. The steering committee will advise on the grant application and eligibility determination process. The Steering Committee will be managed by the Scholar Fund and will meet from December to June, 2023.
The Steering Committee will consist of up to 9 total members. The primary goal is to gather experience from those who work with and for the prioritized populations served by this program. In addition, those with experience in administering or participating in relief funds will receive additional consideration.
Steering Committee Members will be compensated at a rate of $100 per hour and work a maximum of five hours a week, with a maximum of up to $3,000 depending on the number of meetings.
Apply to be on the Steering Committee here: https://airtable.com/shr5tnne1wC5cDuvj.
VSHSL 2023 Summit
Coming soon in spring 2023 is the VSHSL Summit!
This year's summit will include dynamic speakers, impactful trainings, networking fair for all VSHSL-funded partners and much more.
We will be sharing more information in the coming months. For general questions, please contact VSHSL@kingcounty.gov for more information!
 Vets Engaged Mini Grants Opportunities
Applications accepted on a rolling basis through 2023. Apply now! Next deadline: 5pm Monday, February 27, 2023. Visit bit.ly/VetsEngaged to learn more and to apply
The program offers three award levels: $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000, allowing you to better match your program idea with the right amount of funding. VETS ENGAGED is a social engagement funding program of the King County Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy. It awards small grants for entities to convene community-building events and networks that increase social connection for veterans, military service members, their respective families and other non-veterans in King County.
The intent is to cultivate a sense of belonging among veterans that can help bridge the civilian-military divide between veterans, servicemembers, and the general population in King County.
King County Parks 2023 Levy Grant Programs
The 2023 Parks Levy Grants Guidelines have details about 2023 funding, eligibility, applying, and the evaluation process for the following grant programs:
- Aquatic Facilities Grant
- Parks Capital and Open Space Grant
- Open Space – River Corridors Grant
- Healthy Communities and Parks Fund
The Request for Applications will open in January 2023!
Upcoming Webinars King County Parks is hosting a series of webinars to share details about these grant programs, procedures, and policies with prospective applicants and community partners. Sign up for upcoming webinars.
- Tuesday, January 31 (11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.): Parks Capital and Open Space Webinar
- Wednesday, February 1 (11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.): Aquatic Facilities Webinar
- Thursday, February 2 (11:00 a.mm to 12:30 p.m.): Open Space – River Corridors Webinar
- Friday, February 3 (11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.): Healthy Communities and Parks Fund Webinar
For more information visit our website or sign up for the Parks Grants email list.
Please email ParksGrants@kingcounty.gov with questions!
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