Quote of the Week
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
― Ian MacLaren
 This week, I have been traveling to Tromsø, Norway, for a family wedding. This journey included a five-day boat voyage across the Artic Circle! Despite traveling and the nine-hour time difference, I have been attending all council-related meetings remotely.
 My husband, Alex, and I in our waterproof gear before setting out on a rigid inflatable boat through the Lufoten Archipelago.
Labor Summit
At Tuesday’s meeting, the council received a briefing on the annual Labor Summit, which explored opportunities for partnerships between unions and the County around issues like equity, social justice, and training and development. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
Full Council
At Tuesday’s meeting, Councilmembers Dembowski, Zahilay, Upthegrove, Balducci, Dunn, and McDermott presented their honorees with the Dr. Martin Luther King Medal of Distinguished Service. The council also took action on an ordinance authorizing the provision of radio communication services to external agencies. Additionally, the Council passed the first supplemental budget to the 2023-2024 biennial budget. I was pleased to get some significant funding included, especially $500,000 for reviving the waterfront shuttle service and $50,000 to support Public Health’s “Laced and Lethal” campaign. I also secured $15,000 for the Cascade Bicycle Club to help distribute helmets and provide safety instruction to youth in District Four. Additionally, I secured grants for Solid Ground, Aurora Commons, Bridge Care Center, Page Ahead, YMCA, Nature Project, Seattle Children’s Theatre Association, O.A.R.S., F.O.B. Hope, Fanz 4 Good Foundation, and Seattle Art Book Fair. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
Flood Control District Board of Supervisors
At Tuesday’s meeting, the board was briefed on amendments for a resolution relating to the operation and finances of the King County Flood Control Zone District. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
Budget and Fiscal Management Committee
At Wednesday’s meeting, the committee received a briefing on the Executive’s proposed budget reduction targets. The committee also took action on an ordinance relating to the final maturity date for sewer revenue bonds issued to evidence loans from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, an ordinance authorizing the King County Executive to enter into an agreement with the Washington state Department of Commerce Public Works Board for loan financing for a wastewater capital project, and an ordinance related to contracting with commercial banking institutions to provide financial services to the county. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
Regional Policy Committee
At Wednesday’s meeting, the committee received briefings on the King County Regional Homelessness Authority Five-Year Plan, Emergency Management, and Re+ Implementation. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
Board of Health
At Thursday’s meeting, the committee received briefings on youth mental health and on Board of Health membership and recruitment. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
 Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee
At next Tuesday’s meeting at 9:30 a.m., the committee will receive a briefing from Metro’s General Manager. The committee will take possible action on motions acknowledging receipt of the transit stops and centers cleanliness effort report, approving project eligibility criterion for the selection of projects to be funded by Conservation Futures, and authorizing the King County Executive to accept a donation of $500,000 from Kaiser Permanente of Washington. The committee will also take possible action on an ordinance authorizing the use of an interlocal agreement template for cities, towns, and metropolitan park districts for open space acquisition projects, as well as an ordinance relating to the conservation futures program. For more information on this meeting and how to join it, click here.
Full Council
At next Tuesday’s meeting at 1:30 p.m., the council will take possible action on my proposed ordinance concerning a ban on cashless businesses in King County. The council will also take possible action on several Executive appointments. For more information on this meeting and how to join it, click here.
Committee of the Whole
At next Wednesday’s meeting at 9:30 a.m., the committee will receive an executive COVID briefing. The committee will also take possible action on an ordinance acknowledging receipt of the report on toxics in King County wastewater effluent, as well as on another ordinance approving the Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Inclusion Strategy Report and Recommendations from the King County gender identity and sexual orientation inclusion task force. The committee will lastly hear more information about a motion requesting the Executive to provide a priority pathway for job applicants previously employed by the county but who were separated or resigned due to noncompliance with the county's COVID 19 vaccination mandate. For more information on this meeting and how to join it, click here.
Regional Transportation Committee
At next Wednesday’s meeting at 3:00 p.m., the committee will receive briefings on transit service in the rural area, RapidRide Prioritization Plan progress, and the Safety, Security & Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Initiative. For more information on this meeting and how to join it, click here.
 Life-saving blood donations needed to meet growing demand in summer
The Washington State Department of Health is urging able donors to volunteer to donate blood during this summer season. The need for donated blood historically goes up with the summer season, as more people travel, vacation, and spend more time outdoors, and are thus more susceptible to accidents and medical procedures that require transfusions. These factors can lead to critical shortages of life-saving blood, plasma, and other blood products. Click here to learn more and explore donation opportunities near you.
Smoky out? Stay safe indoors
 Our region expects wildfire smoke early this summer, lasting into the fall. Smoke and heat can cause more health problems and hospital and can be especially harmful to at-risk neighbors. If AQI is above 150, stay safe indoors! Click here to learn more.
COVID
For up-to-date information on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the County, see the Daily COVID-19 outbreak summary dashboard.
Helpful Public Health-related articles
Does COVID cause pink eye? Is there a new subvariant? Here’s what experts say – The Seattle Times
Biden administration urges states to slow down on dropping people from Medicaid – AP News
Does COVID cause pink eye? Is there a new subvariant? Here’s what California experts say – The Sacramento Bee
Top health officials call for more research to support fentanyl test strips – STAT News
Washington State Department Of Health Urges Preparation As Wildfire Smoke Threat Looms – The Seattle Medium
People struggling with substance abuse are sometimes mistreated by medical providers – NPR
Providing support and care for people with substance use disorder: Treatment access in King County – King County DCHS
 King County Courthouse Fourth Avenue entrance
As of yesterday, the Fourth Avenue entrance to the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle is closed for necessary repairs, and the Third Avenue entrance will reopen to resume serving as the primary access point to the building moving forward.
Employees, jurors, and other visitors to the Courthouse Building should allow additional time to gain access and clear security screening on Third Avenue during this transition. Temporary signage will be installed to provide directions to users of the building. Repairs to the Fourth Avenue entrance will begin soon and are expected to be completed at the start of August.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the FMD Customer Care Services Team at 206-477-9400 or email: customercareservices.fmd@kingcounty.gov.
2023 Green Globe Awards
 Last week, Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks hosted the annual Green Globe Awards to honor 11 individuals and organizations in recognition of significant efforts to protect the environment, manage natural resources, and ensure environmental justice for all. Essex Porter was a captivating emcee as the awards were presented, and Council Chair Dave Upthegrove took commemorative photos with each of the honorees. The event took place at the lovely Bethaday Community Learning Center and was followed by a conservation walk through Dick Thurnau Memorial Park to observe conservation successes and learn more about volunteer and restoration activities which have improved the ecological health of the park. Lillianna DeLeon from my staff represented me at the event as I was attending a council committee meeting.
Thank you to the honorees Terry Lavender, Warren King George, Sledge Seattle LLC, Sound Foundations NW, Refugee Artisan Initiative, Black Farmers Collective, Emerald Cities Collaborative, Snoqualmie Valley Fish Farm Flood Implementation Oversight Committee, Jason Wood, Kevin Zobrist, and the Sno-King Watershed Council, for all of their hard work to protect and steward our environment and natural resources. Read more about the event and each of the honorees here.
2023 King County Nonprofit Employee Engagement Survey
 King County has launched a survey to help nonprofits with recruiting and retaining employees. King County nonprofit employees are invited to share their thoughts in this survey. The survey will increase knowledge on how nonprofit employees feel about their jobs and how different factors related to job satisfaction may influence nonprofit organizations' recruitment, retention of staff, and ability to maintain high-quality services.
King County Elections provides Russian and Somali ballots for the first time
Translated ballots and voting materials will be available in Russian and Somali for the very first time in the upcoming August Primary Election. With these additions, King County Elections’ ballots now offer translated materials in seven languages, including Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Click here to learn more.
And share the news in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese!
中文 (Chinese) | 한국어 (Korean) | Русский (Russian) | Soomaali (Somali) | Español (Spanish) | Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
 Fatal shooting in Belltown
Earlier this week, as many were attending the reopening of City Hall Park, ambulances blew through Pioneer Square toward Belltown in response to a horrific shooting that had been reported. The shooting occurred on Tuesday around 11:00 a.m. near Fourth Avenue and Lenora Street, when 34-year-old Eina Kwon and her 37-year-old husband Sung Kwon were shot while stopped at the intersection. Eina was 32 weeks pregnant and was shot multiple times. While her husband was injured, neither Eina nor her baby survived. This is an immense loss. Eina was known by her friends and loved ones as a giving and selfless person – she and her husband were the caring owners of Aburiya Bento House, a Japanese restaurant near Pike Place. We now know that the firearm was stolen, and 30-year-old suspect has been arrested for the crime. I am so sorry. I am so sorry that a mother and her child have been taken from their loved ones because of horrific and unexplainable violence. And I am distraught that our region’s sanctions on gun use and resources for mental health have failed once again to keep our community safe. I wish her family peace and comfort during this incredibly tragic time, as well as the Belltown community as it heals from this trauma. To learn more, see this article from The Seattle Times.
Seattle area is becoming increasingly cashless
 Earlier this week, Gene Balk published a story in The Seattle Times analyzing the proliferation of cashless transactions, which specifically mentioned my proposed legislation banning cashless retailers in unincorporated King County. The information in the article discusses some insightful data on unbanked people in King County, though it does not include underbanked people. My proposed legislation may be taken up by the Council for a vote during next Tuesday’s council meeting. You can read Gene Balk’s article here.
City Hall Park reopens after two years
 After two years, City Hall Park reopened to the public on Tuesday with a celebration featuring live music performances by local bands, lawn games, buskers, and food trucks. The park will now remain open from 6:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m., seven days a week, with two full-time park rangers on-site during these hours. To welcome the community back to the park, the city is planning to bring new amenities, including buskers, food trucks, coffee carts, café seating, food trucks, a bike repair program, and an arts instruction program, and large lawn games. Read more about the opening event and exciting new additions here, and read about the two-year closure in this article from The Seattle Times.
YouthCare establishes new murals in Capitol Hill
 On Wednesday, YouthCare and Urban Artworks held an unveiling event for two murals on the corner of Pine Street and Broadway Street in Capitol Hill. These fantastic murals were painted by a crew of nearly 50 youth, ranging in age from middle to high school. The students came to the studio daily and went through the process of planning, sketching, sizing, and collaborating to create a large-scale mural of their own design.
 They depicted the idea of “constellations,” featuring cats in space, astronauts, stars, and hidden features of Seattle and the Capitol Hill community. It was so special to see the hard work of these dedicated students come to life and to hear a few of the youth artists speak on their experience.
Behind the Byline
Learn more about the journalists who report the news in The Seattle Times exclusive subscriber newsletter. In the latest edition, the Times introduced David Kroman, a transportation reporter who recently wrote about how frequently cars crash into buildings in Seattle. Learn more about Kroman here, or you can find previous Behind the Byline interviews on the Inside the Times page. And if you want to know more favorite Seattle Times journalist, send a message to assistant managing editor Danny Gawlowski.
Statement from President Joe Biden on the 60th Anniversary of the Equal Pay Act
Last weekend, President Joe Biden issued a statement on the 60th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. This Act recognized the right of equal pay for equal work, prohibited pay discrimination on the basis of sex, and served as a huge step forward for women in this country. Read the President’s full statement here.
Farmers Markets in King County
 There are tons of farmers markets throughout King County where you can find fresh produce, artisanal goods, and so much more. See the helpful graphic above for neighborhood market dates or click here for more information.
Best Starts for Kids: Universal Developmental Screening Awardees
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Awardees have been selected for the Best Starts for Kids Prenatal-to-Five Universal Developmental Screening (UDS) strategy, with awards totaling $7,092,137. |
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The UDS strategy provides information, training, tools, and connections among providers to ensure all King County children receive culturally appropriate, high-quality developmental screening throughout early childhood. See the complete list of awardees in the images to the left. |
Passage across the Arctic Circle
 As mentioned, I have been traveling for nearly a week with my husband Alex to attend a family wedding near Tromsø, in Norway. Yesterday, I received a “baptism” by our ship captain and Njord, Norse god of the wind and sea, for having successfully crossed the Arctic Circle on our five-day voyage to Tromsø from Bergen. The water was ice-cold! Though certainly chilly, this was a unique and fun experience for us both.
 Celebrate Juneteenth 2023: Exciting Events in Seattle You Can't Miss!
The Seattle YMCA has compiled an exciting list of Juneteenth events throughout King County to take place both this week and the next. Click here to peruse tons of exciting events and find one near you!
The ‘Emerald’ Guide to Juneteenth Events, 2023
The South Seattle Emerald has listed several exciting events which will take place over the holiday weekend in celebration of Juneteenth. Click here to learn more.
Inspire Washington Cultural Futures 2023 Tour
 There are just two weeks left in the Inspire Washington Cultural Futures Tour. Cultural Futures is a free funding, policy, and advocacy workshop for cultural businesses and artists. During the tour events, Inspire Washington will break down new policies, new funding, grant opportunities, and further information about the coalition. There will also be opportunities for you to share your thoughts and to learn how to get involved. Today, visit the Seattle Rep at 5:00 p.m. for the next event on the tour – click here to register.
Fremont Fair
 Tomorrow, June 17th and Sunday, June 18th, visit the Fremont Fair which will take over six city blocks of the Fremont Neighborhood during Solstice Weekend. Celebrate the beginning of summer and enjoy two stages of live music, 300+ craft vendors, beer gardens, art cars, one-of-a-kind Parades, delicious fair foods, and so much more. Find more information here.
Summer Solstice Night Market
 Tomorrow, June 17th, come out to the Lake Union Discovery Center for the Summer Solstice Night Market, organized by the Fremont Sunday Market. Shop, explore, eat, and enjoy music on the longest day of the year. Click here to learn more.
Talib Kweli & Kevin Ross Live Juneteenth 2023
On Monday, June 19th, join King County Equity Now as it celebrated its 3rd anniversary with the annual Juneteenth Celebration from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Jimi Hendrix Park. Attendees can enjoy entertainment by recording artists Talib Kweli and Kevin Ross, joined by some of Seattle’s top artists. The event will also feature community speakers, over 100 vendors, food, and a children’s zone. Click here to reserve your free tickets.
Harbor Island Studios open house
 Harbor Island Studios has hit capacity for its first Harbor Island Studios Open House event in less than one week. To meet demand, it has opened up a second night for its Open House event, on Friday June 30th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. During the open house, see the new improvements, socialize with filmmakers, and enjoy a screening of three short films and one documentary produced entirely at Harbor Island Studios. Click here for more information and to reserve your spot.
If you know of any events that you would like to see highlighted in my enews, feel free to share them at lilli.deleon@kingcounty.gov.
 Queen Anne Helpline
The Queen Anne Helpline is looking for community members who want to join its work in the community. Volunteer positions are open for: client service, sorting and organization, interior design enthusiasts, enthusiastic bakers, financial advisors, or career counselors. Your knowledge and skills can greatly assist individuals and families seeking guidance.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities or to express your interest, please contact Elizabeth for more information!
 WSDA Resiliency Grants
To help address critical needs of hunger relief organizations across Washington, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Food Assistance (FA) is offering the Resiliency Grants Program with approximately $5 million in federal funding to eligible hunger relief organizations, including those not currently participating in FA core programs. This program aims to ensure access to a safe and nutritious supply of food to support a healthy and thriving Washington population. Applications must be submitted before July 31st. Click here to learn more and apply.
With any further questions, please contact foodassistancegrants@agr.wa.gov.
 Coe-nnecting the Community
 The Queen Anne Helpline offers goods and services to help prevent homelessness and provides access to resources for survival. Last week, the fourth-grade students from room 315 at Coe Elementary ended a two-week long food drive for Queen Anne Helpline, hand-delivering over 50 bags of food to the QAH office. These special students conducted the drive while also taking the time to speak to their families and classmates about the importance of food security in our community. The fourth graders went around to other classes giving announcements concerning the drive and collected food from across the school. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, the Queen Anne Helpline can direct this food to those who need it most. Well done, room 315 students!
Helpful and informative links
Safety concerns linger with reopening of King County Courthouse’s main entrance – The Seattle Times
Seen Seattle’s splashy STD signs? Here’s who is behind them – The Seattle Times
Shooting deaths in Belltown leave unspeakable, familiar grief – The Seattle Times
WA renters need to earn twice the minimum wage to afford rent – The Seattle Times
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates. Feel free to forward them to others who can subscribe by clicking here. And you can click here to visit the archive page where you can find all of my previous enews updates.
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